Matching consequences to behavior: Implications of failing to distinguish between noncompliance and nonresponsivity

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2011

Abstract

Neither punitive nor therapeutic approaches alone are effective at addressing the dual public health and public safety concerns associated with managing criminal behavior perpetrated by people who have psychiatric and substance use disorders. The optimal solution may instead require the integration of both criminal justice supervision and treatment. Using problem-solving courts (PSCs) as a model, we focus on one dimension of this integrated approach, distinguishing between behavior that stems from willful noncompliance with supervision and behavior that results from nonresponsivity to treatment. First, we discuss the public health and public safety consequences of using singular approaches to address the criminal behavior of this population. We then present lessons learned from PSCs that distinguish between noncompliant and nonresponsive behaviors in making treatment and supervision decisions. Finally, we consider how the concepts of nonresponsivity and noncompliance may be extended, via policy, to probation and parole settings as well as mental health and substance abuse treatment services outside the criminal justice setting in order to enhance public health and safety. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

Publication Title

International journal of law and psychiatry

Volume

34

Issue

4

First Page

269

Last Page

274

Comments

This article was published in International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, Volume 34, Issue 4, Pages 269-274.

The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2011.07.005.

Copyright © 2011.

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