The Role of Probation in Forensic Assertive Community Treatment

Abstract

Objective Forensic assertive community treatment (FACT) is an adaptation of the assertive community treatment model designed to prevent criminal recidivism through criminal justice collaborations. A national survey was conducted to examine FACT collaborations with probation departments. Methods Members of the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors were surveyed to identify FACT programs. Programs reporting collaborations with probation departments were contacted to provide details. Results Fifty-six percent of FACT programs (15 of 27) reported collaborating with probation departments. Probation officers were assigned an average of 29±16 hours weekly, and 80% of programs (12 of 15) reported a favorable impact of collaboration on risk of patient rearrest. Only two programs reported using standard tools to formally assess recidivism risk. The most common barrier to collaboration was differences in philosophy between FACT team clinicians and probation officers. Conclusions FACT collaborations involving probation departments are common and are viewed by most program leaders as helpful in reducing criminal recidivism.

Engagement processes in model programs for community reentry from prison for people with serious mental illness

“…Lamberti, Deem, Weisman, and LaDuke (2011) conducted a survey of FACT teams nationwide which showed that most programs feature at least some degree of collaboration between mental health professionals and criminal justice authorities, which can be formal (as would be the case when a parole or probation officer is a member of the clinical team) or informal (as would be the case when mental health and criminal justice officials share information and collaborate on treatment decisions). In either variation, the collaboration makes possible the use of legal leverage to enforce treatment engagement.…”

Diversion at re‐entry using criminogenic CBT: Review and prototypical program development

“…There is an increasing number of partnerships between specialty mental health organizations and community corrections. For instance, forensic assertive community treatment (FACT), an offshoot of the assertive community treatment (ACT) movement, seeks to improve outcomes for justice-involved clients with severe mental illness through collaboration between mental health treatment providers and criminal justice agencies, such as probation and parole (Lamberti, Deem, Weisman, & LaDuke, 2011). Such partnerships promote treatment adherence via legal influence and provide criminal justice agencies with access to rehabilitative alternatives to standard sanctions (Lamberti et al, 2011(Lamberti et al, , 2014.…”

“…For instance, forensic assertive community treatment (FACT), an offshoot of the assertive community treatment (ACT) movement, seeks to improve outcomes for justice-involved clients with severe mental illness through collaboration between mental health treatment providers and criminal justice agencies, such as probation and parole (Lamberti, Deem, Weisman, & LaDuke, 2011). Such partnerships promote treatment adherence via legal influence and provide criminal justice agencies with access to rehabilitative alternatives to standard sanctions (Lamberti et al, 2011(Lamberti et al, , 2014. Although there are differences between individual programs (e.g., whether they admit individuals with who have committed certain types of offenses), there is also significant common ground (Lamberti et al, 2011).…”

“…Such partnerships promote treatment adherence via legal influence and provide criminal justice agencies with access to rehabilitative alternatives to standard sanctions (Lamberti et al, 2011(Lamberti et al, , 2014. Although there are differences between individual programs (e.g., whether they admit individuals with who have committed certain types of offenses), there is also significant common ground (Lamberti et al, 2011). For instance, most FACT programs have a part-time or full-time probation officer who receives some mental health trainingusually in the form of brief psychoeducational sessionsand regularly attends treatment team meetings.…”

“…Most FACT programs report agreement between clinicians and probation officers regarding when to use legal sanctions and view probation involvement as helpful to their clients (Lamberti et al, 2011).…”