Objective: The paper describes initial results of collaboration between a m
ental health treatment program at a community mental health center in Balti
more and a probation officer of the U.S. federal prison system to serve the
mental health needs of offenders on federal probation, parole, supervised
release, or conditional release in the community. Methods: A forensic psych
iatrist in the treatment program and a licensed social worker in the probat
ion office facilitate the close working relationship between the agencies.
Treatment services provided or brokered by the community mental health cent
er staff include psychiatric and medical treatment, intensive case manageme
nt, addictions treatment, mine toxicology screening, psychosocial or reside
ntial, rehabilitation services, intensive outpatient care, partial hospital
ization, and inpatient treatment, Results: Among the 16 offenders referred
for treatment during the first 24 months of the collaborative program, 14 w
ere male and 14 were African American, Three of the 16 violated the terms o
f their release due to noncompliance with stipulated mental health treatmen
t; only one of the three had been successfully engaged in treatment, One pa
tient died, two completed their terms of supervision, and ten remained in t
reatment at the time of the report. Conclusions: The major strength of this
collaboration is the cooperation of the treatment and monitoring agencies
with the overall goal of maintaining the offender in the community. Further
research is needed to confirm the effectiveness of the clinical model in r
educing recidivism and retaining clients.