Exploring the link between serious mental illness and incarceration in Los Angeles
Serious mental illness and incarceration: piloting the use of a multi sector linked administrative dataset
This study looks at how serious mental illness affects people who end up in jail, using data from Los Angeles County to find out more about their experiences with hospitals, homelessness, and arrests, all to help create better support and solutions for those in need.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10754890 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the connection between serious mental illness (SMI) and incarceration, aiming to understand how individuals with SMI interact with the criminal justice system. By utilizing a comprehensive administrative dataset from Los Angeles County that connects information across multiple public agencies, the project seeks to identify patterns of hospitalization, homelessness, and arrest among this population. The goal is to inform policies and interventions that can reduce the reliance on law enforcement for mental health crises and improve outcomes for affected individuals. The research will involve collaboration with local administrators and providers to ensure the data is effectively used for monitoring and evaluation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness who have had interactions with the criminal justice system.
Not a fit: Patients with mild mental health issues or those who have not been involved with the criminal justice system may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved mental health interventions and policies that reduce incarceration rates among individuals with serious mental illness.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has indicated that addressing the intersection of mental health and criminal justice can lead to significant improvements in patient outcomes, suggesting that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Castillo, Enrico Guanzon — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Castillo, Enrico Guanzon
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.