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Police Management of Dangerous Mentally Disturbed Individuals Through Proactive Intervention

NCJ Number
109324
Author(s)
W A Tennant
Date Published
1986
Length
201 pages
Annotation
This research implements and evaluates an innovative model of proactive intervention by a specialized police unit to deal with a sample of dangerous mentally disturbed young males.
Abstract
The sample was characterized by histories of serious psychiatric illness, extensive substance abuse, repeated arrests and incarcerations for assaultive behavior, and multiple involuntary hospitalizations. The study used a pretest-posttest control group design, with 20 subjects randomly assigned to intervention treatment or to a control group without intervention. The model of management intervention used was 'proactive,' anticipating difficulties and responding to client needs before a serious psychiatric crisis or decompensation occurred. The intervention was based on current practices of community psychology and an extended analysis of the dangerous behavior previously exhibited by the research sample. The intervention occurred in four areas: crisis response and resolution, client advocacy, resource management, and social support building. Proactive intervention greatly reduced the number of arrests and involuntary hospitalizations in the sample, suggesting that this intervention model is cost effective, acceptable to clients, and adoptable by the growing number of criminal justice and public mental health agencies facing similar concerns. 3 figures and 330-item bibliography. (Author abstract modified)