Scott Cunningham, Jonathan A. Seward, Karen Clay, Vivian S. Vigliotti
{"title":"Adverse Impacts of Mental Health Needs Assessment on Jail Outcomes","authors":"Scott Cunningham, Jonathan A. Seward, Karen Clay, Vivian S. Vigliotti","doi":"10.3368/jhr.1222-12713r2","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Abstract</h3> We investigate the causal impact of jail mental health needs scores, assigned by clinicians, on youth and adult outcomes. Utilizing an instrumental variable (IV) approach leveraging quasi-random assignment of intake clinicians, we find that worse scores increase incarceration duration and suicide attempts in both groups and recidivism in adults. For the marginal person, worse scores may lead to consequences like prolonged jail stays, which counteract potential benefits. We discuss possible mechanisms, including the existence of a mental health docket for misdemeanors, and effects of scores on bond posting, mental healthcare, type of housing within the jail, and length of stay.","PeriodicalId":48346,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Human Resources","volume":"42 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":5.3000,"publicationDate":"2023-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Human Resources","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.1222-12713r2","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"ECONOMICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
We investigate the causal impact of jail mental health needs scores, assigned by clinicians, on youth and adult outcomes. Utilizing an instrumental variable (IV) approach leveraging quasi-random assignment of intake clinicians, we find that worse scores increase incarceration duration and suicide attempts in both groups and recidivism in adults. For the marginal person, worse scores may lead to consequences like prolonged jail stays, which counteract potential benefits. We discuss possible mechanisms, including the existence of a mental health docket for misdemeanors, and effects of scores on bond posting, mental healthcare, type of housing within the jail, and length of stay.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Human Resources is among the leading journals in empirical microeconomics. Intended for scholars, policy makers, and practitioners, each issue examines research in a variety of fields including labor economics, development economics, health economics, and the economics of education, discrimination, and retirement. Founded in 1965, the Journal of Human Resources features articles that make scientific contributions in research relevant to public policy practitioners.