Treating the Seriously Mentally Ill in Prison: An Evaluation of a Contingency Management Program

The management and care of inmates with mental health needs creates immense strain for correctional administrators and staff—leaving questions surrounding the best way to treat and house those with especially acute mental health needs. At the same time, those with mental illness experience a number of disproportionately adverse outcomes while incarcerated. This study evaluates a contingency management program aimed at treating seriously mentally ill inmates housed in a maximum-security prison. Program effectiveness was evaluated using an assessment of within-individual change in mental and behavioral health outcomes 1-year following placement. Supplemental analyses were conducted to identify characteristics of participants most likely to experience negative program outcomes. Results from this study suggest that the contingency management program under investigation is a promising approach to the treatment of seriously mentally ill inmates. Future research is needed, however, to build upon these findings.