Date of Award

2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Orly Calderon, Psy.D.

Second Advisor

Or Dagan, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Chloe Pagano-Stalzer, Ph.D.

Abstract

The overrepresentation of individuals diagnosed with severe mental illness sentenced within the criminal justice system remains a significant concern in the United States. While existing literature discusses the prevalence of mental health concerns among offenders, it does not acknowledge the importance of considering an offender’s mental health in sentencing as standard practice within the justice system. Research highlights the importance of individualized sentencing plans, the use of validated risk and needs assessment tools, and multidisciplinary collaboration among mental health professionals and law enforcement agencies to comprehensively evaluate an individual’s mental health history and needs (Skeem et al., 2006; Steadman et al., 2001). By prioritizing individualized sentencing, validated tools, and multidisciplinary collaboration, the criminal justice system can promote an equitable approach that helps reduce recidivism, addresses the root causes of criminal behavior, and ensures public safety. Despite considerations, research reveals a significant gap in how the judiciary incorporates or reviews mental health factors in sentencing decisions. The current research study involves thematic content analysis focused on eleven sentencing decisions from 2017–2024 from various federal jurisdictions involving adult offenders diagnosed with severe mental illness. The findings indicated variability in judiciary sentencing practices and implementation of recommendations outlined in the literature. The findings suggest the need for greater collaboration between the judiciary and behavioral health professionals in the criminal justice system to better understand the role of mental illness in sentencing decisions and more effectively support criminally convicted individuals with mental health conditions, reduce recidivism, and ultimately increase public protection.

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