Intervention to address criminogenic needs in people with mental illness

Forging New Paths: Building Interventions to Treat Criminogenic Needs in Community Based Mental Health Settings

Not applicable Interventional University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · NCT06290648

This study is testing a new program called 'Forging New Paths' to see if it can help people with mental illness who have been involved with the criminal justice system manage their behavior and stay in the community better than those who only receive standard care.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment72 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Academic / other
Locations1 site (Chapel Hill, North Carolina)
Trial IDNCT06290648 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to test the effectiveness of the 'Forging New Paths' intervention for individuals with mental illness who have had contact with the criminal legal system. Participants will be screened for eligibility and randomly assigned to either the intervention group, which receives 'Forging New Paths' alongside usual care, or a control group receiving usual care alone. The study will evaluate outcomes related to aggression and community tenure, as well as engagement with treatment targets like impulsivity and criminal attitudes. Data will be collected through interviews and administrative records to assess the intervention's impact.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adults aged 18 and older with specific mental health diagnoses and a history of criminal justice system involvement.

Not a fit: Patients with intellectual or developmental disabilities or those currently incarcerated may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly reduce criminal justice involvement among individuals with mental illness by addressing underlying criminogenic risk factors.

How similar studies have performed: While there is limited research specifically targeting criminogenic needs in mental health settings, the approach of addressing criminogenic risk factors in treatment has shown promise in related studies.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* aged 18 years or older,
* have a diagnosis of schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders or major depression or bipolar disorder, ( - have a history of any type of criminal justice system involvement (i.e., arrest, conviction, incarceration, or probation/parole),
* reside in the community and receive services from the Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health or one of their partner agencies and,
* have moderate or higher levels of criminogenic risk factors as determined by the Level of Service and Case Management Inventory (LS/CMI).

Exclusion Criteria:

* an intellectual or developmental disability,
* incarceration at the point of study enrollment,
* non-English speakers.

Where this trial is running

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Mental Illness
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.