Court diversion for those with psychosis and its impact on re-offending rates: results from a longitudinal data-linkage study
Olayan Albalawi,
Nabila Zohora Chowdhury,
Handan Wand,
Stephen Allnutt,
David Greenberg,
Armita Adily,
Azar Kariminia,
Peter Schofield,
Grant Sara,
Sarah Hanson,
Colman O'Driscoll,
Tony Butler
Affiliations
Olayan Albalawi
Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Australia Tabuk University, Department of Statistics, Science Faculty, Saudi Arabia
Nabila Zohora Chowdhury
Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Australia
Handan Wand
Biostatistician, Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Australia
Stephen Allnutt
Private Psychiatrist and Conjoint Lecturer, University of New South Wales, Australia
David Greenberg
Director, New South Wales State-wide Clinical Court Liaison Service, New South Wales Justice and Forensic Mental Health Network; and Conjoint Lecturer, University of New South Wales, Australia
Armita Adily
Research Associate, Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Australia
Azar Kariminia
Senior Lecturer, Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Australia
Peter Schofield
Director, Neuropsychiatry Services, Hunter New England Mental Health, Australia
Grant Sara
Director, InforMH, NSW Ministry of Health; and Clinical Associate Professor, University of Sydney Northern Clinical School, Australia
Sarah Hanson
Director, Quality and Safeguards, Social Policy Group, New South Wales Department of Premier and Cabinet; and Juris Doctor, Mental Health Commission of New South Wales, Australia
Colman O'Driscoll
Executive Director, Lifeline Australia; and Conjoint Lecturer, University of New South Wales, Australia
Tony Butler
Program Head, Justice Health Research Program, Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Australia
BackgroundWith significant numbers of individuals in the criminal justice system having mental health problems, court-based diversion programmes and liaison services have been established to address this problem.AimsTo examine the effectiveness of the New South Wales (Australia) court diversion programme in reducing re-offending among those diagnosed with psychosis by comparing the treatment order group with a comparison group who received a punitive sanction.MethodThose with psychoses were identified from New South Wales Ministry of Health records between 2001 and 2012 and linked to offending records. Cox regression models were used to identify factors associated with re-offending.ResultsA total of 7743 individuals were identified as diagnosed with a psychotic disorder prior to their court finalisation date for their first principal offence. Overall, 26% of the cohort received a treatment order and 74% received a punitive sanction. The re-offending rate in the treatment order group was 12% lower than the punitive sanction group. ‘Acts intended to cause injury’ was the most common type of the first principal offence for the treatment order group compared with the punitive sanction group (48% v. 27%). Drug-related offences were more likely to be punished with a punitive sanction than a treatment order (12% v. 2%).ConclusionsAmong those with a serious mental illness (i.e. psychosis), receiving a treatment order by the court rather than a punitive sanction was associated with reduced risk for subsequent offending. We further examined actual mental health treatment received and found that receiving no treatment following the first offence was associated with an increased risk of re-offending and, so, highlighting the importance of treatment for those with serious mental illness in the criminal justice system.
