A five-year population study of persons involved in the mental health and local correctional systems: Implications for service planning

This study investigates the relationship between recipients of mental health services and incarceration within local jails. The analyses showed that male and female recipients of mental health services are incarcerated in local jails at a higher rate than the general community but that most are not long-term incarcerations. The study further showed that the rate of incarceration for recipients of mental health services decreases with age but the relative risk of incarceration, when compared with the general population, actually increases with age. In addition, across all age groups female recipients of mental health services were found to be at greater risk of incarceration than male recipients.