Skip to main content
Log in

An exploration of social policy and organizational culture in jail-based mental health services

  • Articles
  • Published:
Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mental health staff encounter difficulties delivering services to mentally ill offenders in the criminal justice system environment. This manuscript explores administrative and clinical policy changes made in a mental health program in a mega jail environment resulting in improved inter-agency communications and access to services for mentally impaired offenders. The authors use attribution theory to explain changes in the social policy and organizational culture of the program. The authors suggest the use of two value-based schema as tools to prompt discussions about and improve the relationship between the criminal justice and mental health service systems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bateson, G. (1972).Steps to an ecology of mind. New York, NY: Chandler Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brickman, P., Rabinowitz, V. C., Karuza, J., Coates, D., Cohn, E., & Kidder, L. (1982). Models of helping and coping.American Psychologist, 37, 368–384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crozier, M. (1964).The bureaucratic phenomenon. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, M. A. (1993).The unconscious life of organizations: Interpreting organizational identity. Westport, CT: Quorum Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, P. M., Cruser, D. A., & Schnee, S. B. (August, 1994). County jail: The invisible port of entry into the mental health system. In I. Iscoe (Chair),Forging new partnerships: Mental health and criminal justice systems. Symposium conducted at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Los Angeles, CA.

  • Freeman, R. J., & Roesch, R. (1989). Mental disorder and the criminal justice system: A review.International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 12, 105–115.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gilliard, D. K., & Beck, A. J. (1994).Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin: Prisoners in 1993 (NCJ-147036). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice.

    Google Scholar 

  • Halleck, S. L. (1987).The mentally disordered offender. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janis, I. (1982).Groupthink. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGreevy, M. A. (1993). A description of the forensic outpatient and the opinions of mental health professionals who work with these clients.Psychiatric Quarterly, 64, 235–243.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steadman, H. J., McCarty, D. W., & Morrissey, J. P. (1989).The mentally ill in jail: Planning for essential services. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teplin, L. (1984). Criminalizing mental disorder. The comparative arrest rate of the mentally ill.American Psychologist, 39, 794–803.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Texas Health & Safety Code, Ann. Sec. 614.013. (1993).

  • Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Articles 17.032 & 16.22 (1993).

  • Weiner, B. (1993). On sin versus sickness: A theory of perceived responsibility and social motivation.American Psychologist, 48, 957–965.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

des Cruser, A., Diamond, P.M. An exploration of social policy and organizational culture in jail-based mental health services. Adm Policy Ment Health 24, 129–148 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02042485

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02042485

Keywords

Navigation