Mental Health Fact Sheet 

Substance Abuse and Treatment Branch (SATB), 

Community Supervision Services 

Re-Entry and Sanctions Center (RSC), 

Office of Community Justice Programs 

Adult Probationers / Parolees with Mental Illness in the 

Criminal Justice System 

The National Institute of Mental Health reports that “26.2 percent of Americans 18 and older, 

about one in four adults, suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.” According 

to Teplin, Abram and McClelland (1996) serious mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar 

disorder and major depression are more than three times as prevalent in correctional populations 

as in the general population. Although probation and parole agencies were not designed to meet 

the unique challenges of the mentally ill offender, community correctional agencies throughout 

the United States have developed specialized supervision units to address the needs of special 

populations (i.e., mentally ill, sex offender, domestic violence, substance abuse, etc.). 

The Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency (CSOSA) is a federal community 

corrections agency that supervises and manages parolees and probationers who reside in the 

District of Columbia. The Community Supervision Services Division (CSS) provides 

community supervision to offenders through its general supervision and specialized units. The 

Substance Abuse and Treatment Branch (SATB) is the specialized unit that directs CSOSA’s 

mental health referrals and supervises offenders with mental illnesses and co-occurring disorders. 

The Community Justice Programs Division operates a Re-Entry and Sanctions Center (RSC), 

which performs comprehensive assessments of offenders with co-occurring disorders. The 

outcomes of these assessments are used to develop prescriptive plans that target the offenders’ 

treatment and supervision needs. 
SATB Overview 

Through its six supervision teams, SATB coordinates screening, assessment and referral services 

for offenders identified with or presenting mental health signs and symptoms. The mental health 

supervision teams identify and address the challenges that impede the effective case management 

of offenders with mental health conditions. Community Supervision Officers (CSOs) assigned 

to mental health supervision teams identify offenders with acute and chronic mental health 

conditions; ensure that the identified offenders receive timely and appropriate referrals for 

mental health assessments and treatment; and meet regularly with treatment providers in order to 

help the offender successfully comply with his/her treatment and supervision plans. 

CSOSA’s Mental Health Supervision Teams work together with community based resources 

such as the District of Columbia Department of Mental Health (DMH) and its Core Service 

Agencies. Located throughout the District of Columbia, the Core Service Agencies provide 

routine mental health care to offenders in his/her communities. The Comprehensive Psychiatric 

Emergency Program (CPEP) provides emergency psychiatric care for all offenders who reside in 

the District of Columbia. 

Population Demographics of the Mentally Ill Offender

Currently, SATB supervises 2,068 adult offenders (see Figure 1) ranging in age from 18 - 77 

years with a variety of mental health conditions such as: bipolar disorder, major depression, 

schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, impulse control disorder, anxiety disorder 

and attention deficit hyperactivity disorders. 

Figure 1. Mental Health Offender Demographics 

621

1447

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400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

Gender

Males

Females

1 2 2 30 56

1972

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Race

Amer-Ind/Alaskan Nat

Asian

Other

Hispanic

White NonHispanic

Black NonHispanic

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Since 2000, the number of offenders identified by the SATB with a mental health condition has 

increased by forty percent (40%). More than 34% of the mentally ill offender population has cooccurring disorders of substance abuse. Roughly 21% of this mentally ill offender population 

does not have a permanent place of residence and reside in a homeless shelter, halfway house, 

residential treatment facility, hotel, or with relatives/friends. In addition to the homeless 

population, military veterans that are supervised by SATB represent approximately 3% of the 

mentally ill offender population. 

Profile of the Mentally Ill Offender 

The mentally ill offender often enters supervision with pronounced needs for various social 

resources that include housing, entitlements and treatment. The general profile of the mentally ill 

offender is: 

• Misdemeanors (quality of life crimes) to serious criminal charges (i.e., disorderly conduct 

– murder) 

• Other offenses (i.e., sex offenses, domestic violence) 

• Repeat offenders 

• Chronic mental illness consisting of one or more mental health diagnosis 

• Substance abusers (34%) 

• Trauma 

• Homeless / indigent 

• Low education 

• Institutionalization (i.e., prison and/or mental health facilities) 

Furthermore, CSOs working with the mentally offender coupled with co-occurring disorders may 

also present with behavioral and/or personality disorders which may include: 

• Explosive temper tantrums 

• Physical aggression (i.e., fighting, threats or attempts to harm others) 

• Cruelty towards family or animals 

• Intentional destruction of property or vandalism 
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Supervision Strategies and Case Management Model 

SATB has incorporated several innovative strategies to address the unique needs of mental 

health offender population: 

• Direct partnerships with the District of Columbia Department of Mental Health and 

private community mental health agencies 

• Agency wide mental health screening and referral services 

• Substance abuse assessment and treatment referrals to include CSOSA’s Re-Entry and 

Sanctions Center (RSC) 

• Sanctions and cognitive-behavioral / psychoeducational groups provided by licensed and 

certified therapist. 

• Multidisciplinary case staffing (with internal and external stakeholders) to address noncompliant behavior 

• Participation in mental health treatment staffing with mental health providers 

• One on one individualized supervision planning and case management 

• Continuing education and training for CSOs in working with the mentally ill population 

The Re-Entry and Sanctions Center 

Located in the historic Karrick Hall building on the grounds of the District of Columbia’s 

General Hospital, the CSOSA Re-Entry and Sanctions Center (RSC) provides high-risk 

offenders and defendants with intensive assessment and reintegration programming. Offenders 

and defendants who violate the conditions of their release are also sanctioned to participate in the 

RSC’s residential program. With an annual population of approximately 1,200 residents, the 

RSC’s six units house 102 offenders/defendants each month. Two of the six units, a total of 30 

beds, are dedicated to meeting the needs of dually diagnosed offenders/defendants. 
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The RSC has demonstrated that treatment readiness and appropriate transitional referrals 

enhances treatment and supervision success rates. Offenders with long histories of substance 

abuse require specialized assessment, treatment readiness and individualized case management 

services. Research has shown that the ability to impose prompt, meaningful and graduated 

sanctions improves the likelihood of successful supervision outcomes. 

 Offenders/defendants assigned to the RSC participate in a 28-day holistic and multi-disciplinary 

program that provides intensive assessment and treatment readiness programming. Treatment 

readiness and motivation is the focus of each of the interventions offered at the RSC. These 

interventions target high risk offenders and defendants, and are structured to address one or more 

of the following factors that challenge offenders/defendants successful reentry: 

 Substance abuse 

 Psychological disorders 

 Cognitive /Academic Impairments 

 Criminogenic Risks 

 Post incarceration syndrome 

 Protracted withdrawal 

 Physical Illness 

 Poor attachment/Social Bonding 

 Complicated Bereavement 

 Environmental Concerns (Financial Readiness, Support Systems, Housing) 

RSC offenders/defendants receive counseling, a complete physical, psychological, and 

behavioral assessment; and a referral to inpatient, residential or daily outpatient substance abuse 

treatment programs. Upon completion of the program, offenders/defendants are equipped with 

the tools needed to prevent relapse, succeed in a treatment modality, adhere to supervision 

requirements, improve familial relationships and initiate productive community reintegration. 

The Re-Entry and Sanctions Center’s 

 Co-Occurring Disorders Units (COD) 

The Re-Entry and Sanctions Center’s Co-Occurring Disorders units meet the ASAM PPC-2R 

criteria for a dual diagnosis capable program. As such, the units accept individuals who have 
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confirmed co-occurring mental health and substance-related disorders. In addition to meeting 

the criteria defined below, an offenders/defendant who is admitted to the program must be 

sufficiently stabilized (both psychiatric and medical) so that he may function independently in 

treatment readiness programming. 

Admission Criteria

 Male 18 years or older 

 History of illicit substance abuse and/or dependence 

 Medically stable and a current tuberculosis test (PPD) 

 Minimum of 7 months remaining on supervision 

 High risk (extensive criminal history, high criminality) 

 Confirmed co-occurring Axis I disorder, or mental health history. 

 Evidence of prior treatment or hospitalization for a co-occurring diagnosis 

 When possible, proof of medical coverage/insurance, and a 30-day supply of 

medical/psychotropic medications 

Offenders/defendants are excluded from participating in the RSC‘s program when they are 

actively psychotic (i.e., delusional, hallucinating, paranoid); require medical attention 

beyond the level of care RSC offers; have history of arson, or have no history of mental 

illness. 
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References 

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Statistics. Retrieved September 21, 2009 from 

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/statistics/index.shtml. 

Teplin, L., Abram, K., & McClelland, G. (1996). Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among 

incarcerated women. American Journal of Public Health, 84, 290-293. 

Testimony by Bernard Arons, Director, SAMSHA (Sept. 2000). “Mental Health and Criminal 

Justice.”