Effective components of a jail-based competency program (JBCR) and outpatient competency Program (OCRP)

Abstract

The intersection between mental health and the criminal justice system has caused a public health crisis in the United States, leading to increasing competency evaluation and restoration referrals. This has resulted in jails being overcrowded and defendants with significant mental illness decompensating and awaiting competency restoration. Despite the increased demand for competency restoration services and over half of the United States allowing for jail-based (JBCR) and outpatient competency restoration programs (OCRP), only 14 states actively have these programs. Various JBCR and OCRP were examined to provide effective components for states without JBCR and OCRP models. JBCR and OCRP models have successfully placed defendants in the least restrictive environment to address competency restoration. Two evidence-based theoretical frameworks advocate that utilizing a Risk, Need, Responsivity (RNR) and Good Lives Model (GLM) reduces recidivism for justice-involved individuals. If criminal justice agencies, policymakers, current state Department of Health Services, and contracted human service agencies implement the effective components of a JBCR and OCRP, coupled with the RNR and GLM, they will have the ability to streamline competency restoration services along with reducing recidivism rates for justice-involved individuals who live with significant mental illness.