Criminal Justice Involvement of Individuals with Severe Mental Illness and Supported Employment Outcomes

This study examined the impact of criminal justice involvement on competitive employment outcomes for clients with severe mental illness enrolled in supported employment. Based on chart reviews of 154 clients enrolled in supported employment, the CJI and no CJI groups differed on several clinical and demographic variables, but did not differ on competitive employment outcomes. This study suggests that clients with criminal justice involvement do benefit from supported employment. Further research should track employment outcomes for a longer interval with a larger study group in order to provide a more complete picture of the extent to which CJI impacts employment.