Beth Angell - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Beth Angell

Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 2006

Mental health clinicians rely on a range of legal mandates and interpersonal strategies of encour... more Mental health clinicians rely on a range of legal mandates and interpersonal strategies of encouragement and pressure to address nonadherence to treatment. This paper describes the development and testing of a scale to assess formal and informal strategies used by clinicians to encourage adherence to medication. The 16-item measure was administered to 271 clinicians and analyzed using Rasch measurement modeling. Subsequently, items were revised and readministered to a second sample of 44 clinicians in an urban mental health clinic. Rasch analysis of the items yielded a coherent and internally consistent unidimensional measure of strategies used to promote adherence that vary on a continuum of pressure or social control. Criterion-related validity was assessed by observing the association of the measure with clinician ratings of client adherence. The resulting measure may be employed in future studies to examine the ways in which clinician behavior relates to medication adherence and to consumer perceptions of treatment alliance, quality of care, and perceived coercion.

Journal of Community Psychology, 2010

Despite increased recent attention to improving the quality of encounters between police officers... more Despite increased recent attention to improving the quality of encounters between police officers and people with serious mental illness, there are no measures available for assessing how consumers perceive their interactions with police officers. Drawing upon conceptual frameworks developed within social psychology, this study reports the development and testing of a new measure, the Police Contact Experience Scale (PCES), which yields indicators of procedural justice and coercion as evaluated by persons with mental illness in relation to specific encounters with the police. The PCES was administered to 154 individuals with mental illness that had police contact within the prior 12 months. Rasch rating scale analysis supported construct validity of a 10-item procedural justice and a 5-item coercion scale. Correlational analysis supported convergent validity for both scales. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Journal of Police Crisis Negotiations, 2010

Police officers encounter a sizable number of calls involving individuals who have mental illness... more Police officers encounter a sizable number of calls involving individuals who have mental illness. In response to the challenges that officers face with mental health calls, police departments nationally are implementing specialized response programs. In this paper, we present findings from qualitative interviews with police regarding the implementation of a well-known specialized response model, Crisis Intervention Teams. Researchers employed a grounded dimensional analysis to examine how CIT is utilized in four Chicago police districts. Results indicate that police, irrespective of whether they received CIT training, perceive an array of benefits of CIT implementation in their district. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.

Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 2010

The Crisis intervention team model (CIT) is possibly the most well known and widely adopted model... more The Crisis intervention team model (CIT) is possibly the most well known and widely adopted model to improve police response to persons with mental illness. A primary goal of CIT programs is to divert individuals with mental illness from the criminal justice system to mental health services. In this paper we examine the effectiveness of fielding CIT trained and supported officers for influencing call outcomes using data from patrol officers (n = 112) in four Chicago Police districts. Results from regression analysis indicate that CIT certified officers directed a greater proportion of persons with mental illness to mental health services than their Non-CIT certified peers. CIT did not have an immediate effect on arrest. Moderator analysis indicates that CIT had its biggest effect on increasing direction to services and decreasing "contact only" among officers who have a positive view of mental health services and who know a person with mental illness in their personal life. Additional moderators of the CIT effect on call outcomes include level of resistance and the presence of a weapon. Findings from this study have important implications for policy, practice and future research.

Crime & Delinquency, 2012

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program was first developed to reduce violence in encounters b... more The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program was first developed to reduce violence in encounters between the police and people with mental illness as well as provide improved access to mental health services. Although there is overwhelming popular support for this intervention, scant empirical evidence of its effectiveness is available-particularly whether the program can reduce the use of force. This investigation seeks to fill this gap in the literature by exploring the factors that influence use of force in encounters involving people with mental illness and evaluating whether CIT can reduce the likelihood of its use.

Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 2008

Programs to improve police interactions with persons with mental illness are being initiated acro... more Programs to improve police interactions with persons with mental illness are being initiated across the country. In order to assess the impact of such interventions with this population, we must first understand the dimensions of how police encounters are experienced by consumers themselves. Using procedural justice theory as a sensitizing framework, we used in-depth semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of twenty persons with mental illness in 67 encounters with police. While participants came into contact with police in a variety of ways, two main themes emerged. First, they feel vulnerable and fearful of police, and second, the way police treated them mattered. Findings elaborate on dimensions of procedural justice theory and are informative for police practice and mental health services.

Community Mental Health Journal

In response to challenges officers face with mental health-related calls, police departments are ... more In response to challenges officers face with mental health-related calls, police departments are implementing specialized response programs like Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT). CIT is gaining support for its promise to promote safe, respectful interactions with police and individuals with mental illnesses. This paper outlines the results of a qualitative study investigating the impact of CIT. We found difference in CIT and non-CIT officers’ response tactics to mental health-related calls and assessments of danger. CIT officers described a broader understanding of exhibited behaviors and considered more options when deciding the outcomes of calls. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Journal of Community Psychology, 2010

Despite increased recent attention to improving the quality of encounters between police officers... more Despite increased recent attention to improving the quality of encounters between police officers and people with serious mental illness, there are no measures available for assessing how consumers perceive their interactions with police officers. Drawing upon conceptual frameworks developed within social psychology, this study reports the development and testing of a new measure, the Police Contact Experience Scale (PCES), which yields indicators of procedural justice and coercion as evaluated by persons with mental illness in relation to specific encounters with the police. The PCES was administered to 154 individuals with mental illness that had police contact within the prior 12 months. Rasch rating scale analysis supported construct validity of a 10-item procedural justice and a 5-item coercion scale. Correlational analysis supported convergent validity for both scales. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Journal of Police Crisis Negotiations, 2010

Police officers encounter a sizable number of calls involving individuals who have mental illness... more Police officers encounter a sizable number of calls involving individuals who have mental illness. In response to the challenges that officers face with mental health calls, police departments nationally are implementing specialized response programs. In this paper, we present findings from qualitative interviews with police regarding the implementation of a well-known specialized response model, Crisis Intervention Teams. Researchers employed a grounded dimensional analysis to examine how CIT is utilized in four Chicago police districts. Results indicate that police, irrespective of whether they received CIT training, perceive an array of benefits of CIT implementation in their district. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.

Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 2010

The Crisis intervention team model (CIT) is possibly the most well known and widely adopted model... more The Crisis intervention team model (CIT) is possibly the most well known and widely adopted model to improve police response to persons with mental illness. A primary goal of CIT programs is to divert individuals with mental illness from the criminal justice system to mental health services. In this paper we examine the effectiveness of fielding CIT trained and supported officers for influencing call outcomes using data from patrol officers (n = 112) in four Chicago Police districts. Results from regression analysis indicate that CIT certified officers directed a greater proportion of persons with mental illness to mental health services than their Non-CIT certified peers. CIT did not have an immediate effect on arrest. Moderator analysis indicates that CIT had its biggest effect on increasing direction to services and decreasing "contact only" among officers who have a positive view of mental health services and who know a person with mental illness in their personal life. Additional moderators of the CIT effect on call outcomes include level of resistance and the presence of a weapon. Findings from this study have important implications for policy, practice and future research.

Crime & Delinquency, 2012

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program was first developed to reduce violence in encounters b... more The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program was first developed to reduce violence in encounters between the police and people with mental illness as well as provide improved access to mental health services. Although there is overwhelming popular support for this intervention, scant empirical evidence of its effectiveness is available-particularly whether the program can reduce the use of force. This investigation seeks to fill this gap in the literature by exploring the factors that influence use of force in encounters involving people with mental illness and evaluating whether CIT can reduce the likelihood of its use.

Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 2008

Programs to improve police interactions with persons with mental illness are being initiated acro... more Programs to improve police interactions with persons with mental illness are being initiated across the country. In order to assess the impact of such interventions with this population, we must first understand the dimensions of how police encounters are experienced by consumers themselves. Using procedural justice theory as a sensitizing framework, we used in-depth semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of twenty persons with mental illness in 67 encounters with police. While participants came into contact with police in a variety of ways, two main themes emerged. First, they feel vulnerable and fearful of police, and second, the way police treated them mattered. Findings elaborate on dimensions of procedural justice theory and are informative for police practice and mental health services.

Community Mental Health Journal

In response to challenges officers face with mental health-related calls, police departments are ... more In response to challenges officers face with mental health-related calls, police departments are implementing specialized response programs like Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT). CIT is gaining support for its promise to promote safe, respectful interactions with police and individuals with mental illnesses. This paper outlines the results of a qualitative study investigating the impact of CIT. We found difference in CIT and non-CIT officers’ response tactics to mental health-related calls and assessments of danger. CIT officers described a broader understanding of exhibited behaviors and considered more options when deciding the outcomes of calls. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Journal of Community Psychology, 2010

Despite increased recent attention to improving the quality of encounters between police officers... more Despite increased recent attention to improving the quality of encounters between police officers and people with serious mental illness, there are no measures available for assessing how consumers perceive their interactions with police officers. Drawing upon conceptual frameworks developed within social psychology, this study reports the development and testing of a new measure, the Police Contact Experience Scale (PCES), which yields indicators of procedural justice and coercion as evaluated by persons with mental illness in relation to specific encounters with the police. The PCES was administered to 154 individuals with mental illness that had police contact within the prior 12 months. Rasch rating scale analysis supported construct validity of a 10-item procedural justice and a 5-item coercion scale. Correlational analysis supported convergent validity for both scales. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Journal of Police Crisis Negotiations, 2010

Police officers encounter a sizable number of calls involving individuals who have mental illness... more Police officers encounter a sizable number of calls involving individuals who have mental illness. In response to the challenges that officers face with mental health calls, police departments nationally are implementing specialized response programs. In this paper, we present findings from qualitative interviews with police regarding the implementation of a well-known specialized response model, Crisis Intervention Teams. Researchers employed a grounded dimensional analysis to examine how CIT is utilized in four Chicago police districts. Results indicate that police, irrespective of whether they received CIT training, perceive an array of benefits of CIT implementation in their district. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.

Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 2010

The Crisis intervention team model (CIT) is possibly the most well known and widely adopted model... more The Crisis intervention team model (CIT) is possibly the most well known and widely adopted model to improve police response to persons with mental illness. A primary goal of CIT programs is to divert individuals with mental illness from the criminal justice system to mental health services. In this paper we examine the effectiveness of fielding CIT trained and supported officers for influencing call outcomes using data from patrol officers (n = 112) in four Chicago Police districts. Results from regression analysis indicate that CIT certified officers directed a greater proportion of persons with mental illness to mental health services than their Non-CIT certified peers. CIT did not have an immediate effect on arrest. Moderator analysis indicates that CIT had its biggest effect on increasing direction to services and decreasing "contact only" among officers who have a positive view of mental health services and who know a person with mental illness in their personal life. Additional moderators of the CIT effect on call outcomes include level of resistance and the presence of a weapon. Findings from this study have important implications for policy, practice and future research.

Crime & Delinquency, 2012

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program was first developed to reduce violence in encounters b... more The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program was first developed to reduce violence in encounters between the police and people with mental illness as well as provide improved access to mental health services. Although there is overwhelming popular support for this intervention, scant empirical evidence of its effectiveness is available-particularly whether the program can reduce the use of force. This investigation seeks to fill this gap in the literature by exploring the factors that influence use of force in encounters involving people with mental illness and evaluating whether CIT can reduce the likelihood of its use.

Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 2008

Programs to improve police interactions with persons with mental illness are being initiated acro... more Programs to improve police interactions with persons with mental illness are being initiated across the country. In order to assess the impact of such interventions with this population, we must first understand the dimensions of how police encounters are experienced by consumers themselves. Using procedural justice theory as a sensitizing framework, we used in-depth semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of twenty persons with mental illness in 67 encounters with police. While participants came into contact with police in a variety of ways, two main themes emerged. First, they feel vulnerable and fearful of police, and second, the way police treated them mattered. Findings elaborate on dimensions of procedural justice theory and are informative for police practice and mental health services.

Community Mental Health Journal

In response to challenges officers face with mental health-related calls, police departments are ... more In response to challenges officers face with mental health-related calls, police departments are implementing specialized response programs like Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT). CIT is gaining support for its promise to promote safe, respectful interactions with police and individuals with mental illnesses. This paper outlines the results of a qualitative study investigating the impact of CIT. We found difference in CIT and non-CIT officers’ response tactics to mental health-related calls and assessments of danger. CIT officers described a broader understanding of exhibited behaviors and considered more options when deciding the outcomes of calls. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 2007

The helping relationship or alliance is theorized to be an important process variable in case man... more The helping relationship or alliance is theorized to be an important process variable in case management services for people with serious mental illness. Previous studies of the case management relationship borrow concepts and measures from psychotherapy research and therefore may overlook important differences in tasks, settings, and clinical roles across settings. A study of client–provider relationships as perceived by case managers, based on a qualitative study of two intensive case management (ICM) teams, is presented. The findings, which delineate positive and negative experiential elements, may be used to improve measurement of the case management relationship in future research.

Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 2006

Mental health clinicians rely on a range of legal mandates and interpersonal strategies of encour... more Mental health clinicians rely on a range of legal mandates and interpersonal strategies of encouragement and pressure to address nonadherence to treatment. This paper describes the development and testing of a scale to assess formal and informal strategies used by clinicians to encourage adherence to medication. The 16-item measure was administered to 271 clinicians and analyzed using Rasch measurement modeling. Subsequently, items were revised and readministered to a second sample of 44 clinicians in an urban mental health clinic. Rasch analysis of the items yielded a coherent and internally consistent unidimensional measure of strategies used to promote adherence that vary on a continuum of pressure or social control. Criterion-related validity was assessed by observing the association of the measure with clinician ratings of client adherence. The resulting measure may be employed in future studies to examine the ways in which clinician behavior relates to medication adherence and to consumer perceptions of treatment alliance, quality of care, and perceived coercion.

Journal of Community Psychology, 2010

Despite increased recent attention to improving the quality of encounters between police officers... more Despite increased recent attention to improving the quality of encounters between police officers and people with serious mental illness, there are no measures available for assessing how consumers perceive their interactions with police officers. Drawing upon conceptual frameworks developed within social psychology, this study reports the development and testing of a new measure, the Police Contact Experience Scale (PCES), which yields indicators of procedural justice and coercion as evaluated by persons with mental illness in relation to specific encounters with the police. The PCES was administered to 154 individuals with mental illness that had police contact within the prior 12 months. Rasch rating scale analysis supported construct validity of a 10-item procedural justice and a 5-item coercion scale. Correlational analysis supported convergent validity for both scales. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Journal of Police Crisis Negotiations, 2010

Police officers encounter a sizable number of calls involving individuals who have mental illness... more Police officers encounter a sizable number of calls involving individuals who have mental illness. In response to the challenges that officers face with mental health calls, police departments nationally are implementing specialized response programs. In this paper, we present findings from qualitative interviews with police regarding the implementation of a well-known specialized response model, Crisis Intervention Teams. Researchers employed a grounded dimensional analysis to examine how CIT is utilized in four Chicago police districts. Results indicate that police, irrespective of whether they received CIT training, perceive an array of benefits of CIT implementation in their district. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.

Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 2010

The Crisis intervention team model (CIT) is possibly the most well known and widely adopted model... more The Crisis intervention team model (CIT) is possibly the most well known and widely adopted model to improve police response to persons with mental illness. A primary goal of CIT programs is to divert individuals with mental illness from the criminal justice system to mental health services. In this paper we examine the effectiveness of fielding CIT trained and supported officers for influencing call outcomes using data from patrol officers (n = 112) in four Chicago Police districts. Results from regression analysis indicate that CIT certified officers directed a greater proportion of persons with mental illness to mental health services than their Non-CIT certified peers. CIT did not have an immediate effect on arrest. Moderator analysis indicates that CIT had its biggest effect on increasing direction to services and decreasing "contact only" among officers who have a positive view of mental health services and who know a person with mental illness in their personal life. Additional moderators of the CIT effect on call outcomes include level of resistance and the presence of a weapon. Findings from this study have important implications for policy, practice and future research.

Crime & Delinquency, 2012

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program was first developed to reduce violence in encounters b... more The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program was first developed to reduce violence in encounters between the police and people with mental illness as well as provide improved access to mental health services. Although there is overwhelming popular support for this intervention, scant empirical evidence of its effectiveness is available-particularly whether the program can reduce the use of force. This investigation seeks to fill this gap in the literature by exploring the factors that influence use of force in encounters involving people with mental illness and evaluating whether CIT can reduce the likelihood of its use.

Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 2008

Programs to improve police interactions with persons with mental illness are being initiated acro... more Programs to improve police interactions with persons with mental illness are being initiated across the country. In order to assess the impact of such interventions with this population, we must first understand the dimensions of how police encounters are experienced by consumers themselves. Using procedural justice theory as a sensitizing framework, we used in-depth semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of twenty persons with mental illness in 67 encounters with police. While participants came into contact with police in a variety of ways, two main themes emerged. First, they feel vulnerable and fearful of police, and second, the way police treated them mattered. Findings elaborate on dimensions of procedural justice theory and are informative for police practice and mental health services.

Community Mental Health Journal

In response to challenges officers face with mental health-related calls, police departments are ... more In response to challenges officers face with mental health-related calls, police departments are implementing specialized response programs like Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT). CIT is gaining support for its promise to promote safe, respectful interactions with police and individuals with mental illnesses. This paper outlines the results of a qualitative study investigating the impact of CIT. We found difference in CIT and non-CIT officers’ response tactics to mental health-related calls and assessments of danger. CIT officers described a broader understanding of exhibited behaviors and considered more options when deciding the outcomes of calls. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Journal of Community Psychology, 2010

Despite increased recent attention to improving the quality of encounters between police officers... more Despite increased recent attention to improving the quality of encounters between police officers and people with serious mental illness, there are no measures available for assessing how consumers perceive their interactions with police officers. Drawing upon conceptual frameworks developed within social psychology, this study reports the development and testing of a new measure, the Police Contact Experience Scale (PCES), which yields indicators of procedural justice and coercion as evaluated by persons with mental illness in relation to specific encounters with the police. The PCES was administered to 154 individuals with mental illness that had police contact within the prior 12 months. Rasch rating scale analysis supported construct validity of a 10-item procedural justice and a 5-item coercion scale. Correlational analysis supported convergent validity for both scales. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Journal of Police Crisis Negotiations, 2010

Police officers encounter a sizable number of calls involving individuals who have mental illness... more Police officers encounter a sizable number of calls involving individuals who have mental illness. In response to the challenges that officers face with mental health calls, police departments nationally are implementing specialized response programs. In this paper, we present findings from qualitative interviews with police regarding the implementation of a well-known specialized response model, Crisis Intervention Teams. Researchers employed a grounded dimensional analysis to examine how CIT is utilized in four Chicago police districts. Results indicate that police, irrespective of whether they received CIT training, perceive an array of benefits of CIT implementation in their district. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.

Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 2010

The Crisis intervention team model (CIT) is possibly the most well known and widely adopted model... more The Crisis intervention team model (CIT) is possibly the most well known and widely adopted model to improve police response to persons with mental illness. A primary goal of CIT programs is to divert individuals with mental illness from the criminal justice system to mental health services. In this paper we examine the effectiveness of fielding CIT trained and supported officers for influencing call outcomes using data from patrol officers (n = 112) in four Chicago Police districts. Results from regression analysis indicate that CIT certified officers directed a greater proportion of persons with mental illness to mental health services than their Non-CIT certified peers. CIT did not have an immediate effect on arrest. Moderator analysis indicates that CIT had its biggest effect on increasing direction to services and decreasing "contact only" among officers who have a positive view of mental health services and who know a person with mental illness in their personal life. Additional moderators of the CIT effect on call outcomes include level of resistance and the presence of a weapon. Findings from this study have important implications for policy, practice and future research.

Crime & Delinquency, 2012

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program was first developed to reduce violence in encounters b... more The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program was first developed to reduce violence in encounters between the police and people with mental illness as well as provide improved access to mental health services. Although there is overwhelming popular support for this intervention, scant empirical evidence of its effectiveness is available-particularly whether the program can reduce the use of force. This investigation seeks to fill this gap in the literature by exploring the factors that influence use of force in encounters involving people with mental illness and evaluating whether CIT can reduce the likelihood of its use.

Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 2008

Programs to improve police interactions with persons with mental illness are being initiated acro... more Programs to improve police interactions with persons with mental illness are being initiated across the country. In order to assess the impact of such interventions with this population, we must first understand the dimensions of how police encounters are experienced by consumers themselves. Using procedural justice theory as a sensitizing framework, we used in-depth semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of twenty persons with mental illness in 67 encounters with police. While participants came into contact with police in a variety of ways, two main themes emerged. First, they feel vulnerable and fearful of police, and second, the way police treated them mattered. Findings elaborate on dimensions of procedural justice theory and are informative for police practice and mental health services.

Community Mental Health Journal

In response to challenges officers face with mental health-related calls, police departments are ... more In response to challenges officers face with mental health-related calls, police departments are implementing specialized response programs like Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT). CIT is gaining support for its promise to promote safe, respectful interactions with police and individuals with mental illnesses. This paper outlines the results of a qualitative study investigating the impact of CIT. We found difference in CIT and non-CIT officers’ response tactics to mental health-related calls and assessments of danger. CIT officers described a broader understanding of exhibited behaviors and considered more options when deciding the outcomes of calls. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Journal of Community Psychology, 2010

Despite increased recent attention to improving the quality of encounters between police officers... more Despite increased recent attention to improving the quality of encounters between police officers and people with serious mental illness, there are no measures available for assessing how consumers perceive their interactions with police officers. Drawing upon conceptual frameworks developed within social psychology, this study reports the development and testing of a new measure, the Police Contact Experience Scale (PCES), which yields indicators of procedural justice and coercion as evaluated by persons with mental illness in relation to specific encounters with the police. The PCES was administered to 154 individuals with mental illness that had police contact within the prior 12 months. Rasch rating scale analysis supported construct validity of a 10-item procedural justice and a 5-item coercion scale. Correlational analysis supported convergent validity for both scales. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Journal of Police Crisis Negotiations, 2010

Police officers encounter a sizable number of calls involving individuals who have mental illness... more Police officers encounter a sizable number of calls involving individuals who have mental illness. In response to the challenges that officers face with mental health calls, police departments nationally are implementing specialized response programs. In this paper, we present findings from qualitative interviews with police regarding the implementation of a well-known specialized response model, Crisis Intervention Teams. Researchers employed a grounded dimensional analysis to examine how CIT is utilized in four Chicago police districts. Results indicate that police, irrespective of whether they received CIT training, perceive an array of benefits of CIT implementation in their district. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.

Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 2010

The Crisis intervention team model (CIT) is possibly the most well known and widely adopted model... more The Crisis intervention team model (CIT) is possibly the most well known and widely adopted model to improve police response to persons with mental illness. A primary goal of CIT programs is to divert individuals with mental illness from the criminal justice system to mental health services. In this paper we examine the effectiveness of fielding CIT trained and supported officers for influencing call outcomes using data from patrol officers (n = 112) in four Chicago Police districts. Results from regression analysis indicate that CIT certified officers directed a greater proportion of persons with mental illness to mental health services than their Non-CIT certified peers. CIT did not have an immediate effect on arrest. Moderator analysis indicates that CIT had its biggest effect on increasing direction to services and decreasing "contact only" among officers who have a positive view of mental health services and who know a person with mental illness in their personal life. Additional moderators of the CIT effect on call outcomes include level of resistance and the presence of a weapon. Findings from this study have important implications for policy, practice and future research.

Crime & Delinquency, 2012

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program was first developed to reduce violence in encounters b... more The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program was first developed to reduce violence in encounters between the police and people with mental illness as well as provide improved access to mental health services. Although there is overwhelming popular support for this intervention, scant empirical evidence of its effectiveness is available-particularly whether the program can reduce the use of force. This investigation seeks to fill this gap in the literature by exploring the factors that influence use of force in encounters involving people with mental illness and evaluating whether CIT can reduce the likelihood of its use.

Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 2008

Programs to improve police interactions with persons with mental illness are being initiated acro... more Programs to improve police interactions with persons with mental illness are being initiated across the country. In order to assess the impact of such interventions with this population, we must first understand the dimensions of how police encounters are experienced by consumers themselves. Using procedural justice theory as a sensitizing framework, we used in-depth semi-structured interviews to explore the experiences of twenty persons with mental illness in 67 encounters with police. While participants came into contact with police in a variety of ways, two main themes emerged. First, they feel vulnerable and fearful of police, and second, the way police treated them mattered. Findings elaborate on dimensions of procedural justice theory and are informative for police practice and mental health services.

Community Mental Health Journal

In response to challenges officers face with mental health-related calls, police departments are ... more In response to challenges officers face with mental health-related calls, police departments are implementing specialized response programs like Crisis Intervention Teams (CIT). CIT is gaining support for its promise to promote safe, respectful interactions with police and individuals with mental illnesses. This paper outlines the results of a qualitative study investigating the impact of CIT. We found difference in CIT and non-CIT officers’ response tactics to mental health-related calls and assessments of danger. CIT officers described a broader understanding of exhibited behaviors and considered more options when deciding the outcomes of calls. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 2007

The helping relationship or alliance is theorized to be an important process variable in case man... more The helping relationship or alliance is theorized to be an important process variable in case management services for people with serious mental illness. Previous studies of the case management relationship borrow concepts and measures from psychotherapy research and therefore may overlook important differences in tasks, settings, and clinical roles across settings. A study of client–provider relationships as perceived by case managers, based on a qualitative study of two intensive case management (ICM) teams, is presented. The findings, which delineate positive and negative experiential elements, may be used to improve measurement of the case management relationship in future research.