Main Challenge

One in two Americans with serious mental illness (SMI) will be arrested in their lifetime. Individuals with SMI are three times more likely to be treated in a jail, state hospital, or other forensic setting than within the broader mental health system. This is one example of the complex association between behavioral health and the legal system.

Our Approach

• Offer empirically-supported assessment and intervention practices for justice-involved individuals with mental illness.
• Enhance law and policy by educating policy makers on mental health, behavioral, and psycholegal issues, and assisting courts in making informed decisions by providing evaluation and consultation services.
• Train and educate the next generation of scholars, practitioners and others in forensic mental health.

Susan E. Reynolds
cmhpl@uw.edu