DOI: 10.3886/icpsr35650.v1
title: Comparative Evaluation of Court-Based Responses to Offenders with Mental Illnesses, Cook County, Illinois, 1953-2014
title: Version 1

description: These data are part of NACJD's Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed.
This study was designed to provide a mixed methods comparative evaluation of three established court-based programs that serve offenders with serious mental illness (SMI). These programs were selected in response to criticism of similar research for studying young programs that are still in development, employing short follow up periods that are unable to indicate sustained effectiveness, and utilizing less than ideal comparison conditions. The study was conducted in Cook County, Illinois, and data were collected from three distinct court-based programs: the Cook County Felony Mental Health Court (MHC) which serves individuals with SMI who have been arrested for nonviolent felonies, the Specialized Mental Health Probation Unit which involves specially trained probation officers who supervise a reduced caseload of probationers diagnosed with SMI, and the Cook County Adult Probation Department which has an active caseload of approximately 25,000 probationers, a portion of whom have SMI. Probation officer interviews were coded for themes regarding beliefs about the relationship between mental illness and crime, views on the purpose of their program, and approaches used with probationers with SMI. The coding of probationer interviews focused on experiences related to having SMI and being on probation, including: the extent to which probation was involved with mental health treatment; development of awareness of mental health issues; evaluations of the programs based on subjective experiences; and the relationship dynamics between probationers and staff.
The collection includes 3 Stata data files: DRI-R_data_for_NACJD_041315.dta with 98 cases and 61 variables, Epperson_NIJ_Quantitative_Data_for_NACJD_041315.dta with 25203 cases and 49 variables, and incarceration_data_061515.dta with 676 cases and 4 variables. The qualitative data are not available as part of this data collection at this time.
description: The purpose of this study was to employ a mixed methods comparative evaluation of three established court-based programs that serve offenders with Serious Mental Illnesses (SMI): mental health court, specialized probation, and standard probation. The primary aims of the study were to examine and compare each program's structure, operation, and effectiveness.
description: Data for the study were derived from qualitative, in-depth interviews with 26 probation officers and staff from three distinct court-based programs; in-depth interviews and administration of the Dual Role Relationship Inventory - Revised (DRI-R), with 98 probationers with SMI; and administrative data on 864 individuals who exited the three programs in 2008 or 2009, consisting of demographic, SMI diagnosis, and longitudinal criminal history information through 2014.
description: DRI-R_data_for_NACJD_041315.dta: This file includes 98 cases and 61 variables which measure items from the Dual Role Relationship Inventory - Revised (DRI-R) taken by probationers regarding their relationship with their probation officers. DRI-R items include how often probation officer cares about them, explains things to them, tries to do the right thing, talks with them, is enthusiastic, trusts them, helps them, puts them down, is looking to punish them, is fair, is friendly, and tries to understand them. Items also include how often probationer can be open and honest with their probation officer and feel free to discuss worries with them. Additionally there are several computed variables using the DRI-R item variables. The data also include demographic and administrative variables such as type of probation, age, gender, race, participation in other probation programs, substance use, and number of times arrested in their lifetime.
Epperson_NIJ_Quantitative_Data_for_NACJD_041315.dta: This file includes 25203 cases and 49 variables and includes data on arrest charges such as charge type, charge date, charge category, total charges, probation type, probation start and end dates, number of days on probation, age at start of probation, arrests before, during, and after probation period, violent arrest, total violent arrests and charges, drug arrests and charges, total drug charges, and whether drug charges were before, during, or after probation period. Demographic and administrative variables include age at arrest, gender, race, diagnosis, probation termination type, which program probationer participated in, probation charge type, and highest education level.
incarceration_data_061515.dta: This file includes 676 cases and 4 variables which contains study ID, type of probation program, total months incarcerated pre-probation, and whether probationer was sentenced to prison before probation.
description: Presence of Common Scales: 
					Dual Role Relationship Inventory, Revised (DRI-R).
description: Response Rates: 
					Approximately 90%
description: Datasets: 
					
						DS1: Dataset
description: record abstracts
description: face-to-face interview
description: mixed mode
description: paper and pencil interview (PAPI)
description: Probationers with serious mental illnesses (SMI) in Cook County, Illinois. Probation officers and staff from the Cook County Felony Mental Health Court (MHC), the Specialized Mental Health Probation Unit, and the Cook County Adult Probation Department.
				   		Smallest Geographic Unit: None.
description: For the primary data collection, a convenience sample was obtained of probationers with serious mental illnesses (SMI) and probation staff.  For the administrative data request, probationers exiting their probation in 2008 or 2009 were sampled.