Abstract

This qualitative study used an action research design and an appreciative inquiry methodology. The key purpose of this study was to innovate collaborative processes between the Mental Health Court and mental health service providers as they work together to design new strategies to reduce recidivism among adult offenders with serious mental illness. This study followed a pragmatic approach that allowed for evolving assumptions about the causes that influence the outcomes. The stakeholders in this study were legal professionals and mental health service providers. Individual interviews, focus groups, and a survey were used to explore effective ways to help offenders with serious mental illness to coexist successfully in the community and avoid further incarceration. The outcome of this research was an improvement in collaboration between stakeholders to ensure successful transition from jail to the community, for offenders with serious mental illness. This collaboration removed barriers to avoiding recidivism and re-incarceration among adults with serious mental illness and improved policy and procedure followed by the mental health service providers and court professionals.