Document Type

Honors Project

First Advisor

Dr. Timothy Brazill

Degree Award Date

Spring 2024

Keywords

mental illness, substance use, re-entry, criminal justice

Disciplines

Criminology | Psychology | Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance | Social Justice

Abstract

The study is an exploration of services available for offenders with mental illness (OMI) and obstacles to providing treatment. It aims to identify services and obstacles to delivering treatment for offenders with mental health and substance use disorders in Augusta and Rockingham Counties. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with representatives of local agencies. Based on the agencies interviewed, services for OMI vary across the Sequential Intercept Model, with services like Crisis Intervention Teams, Medication-Assisted Treatment, and supervisory housing. Participants reported that despite the variation in services, barriers in infrastructure due to poor funding, low staffing, and lack of housing were present. Additionally, participants faced challenges with offender utilization because of anosognosia—a disorder that affects an individual's ability to recognize they have a disorder and need treatment. To address these barriers, it is necessary to increase funding and raise awareness about these individuals' challenges and substance use as a mental illness.

Force Open Access

1

Download

Share

COinS