Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT)
Problems addressed
Crime and delinquency (multiple types)
Violent crimes
Effectiveness

Promising

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Promising

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Life periods served
Adults (18 to 59 years)
Where the program was applied
Residential - Mental health or therapeutic community services
Country of application
United States
Description

This is a civil legal procedure for adults in conflict with the law who have serious mental disorders associated with the crime they committed. Through a specialized court, a judge can order the offender to follow a personalized treatment plan, without the need for confinement, and they can adhere to treatment while residing in the community.

Impact evaluations

An impact evaluation showed that participants in the program were less likely to be arrested for any offense or for violent crimes when compared to the control group, which did not receive the intervention [1].

Bibliographic reference

[1] Link, B. G., Epperson, M. W., Perron, B. E., Castille, D. M. & Yang, L. H. (2011). Arrest outcomes associated with outpatient commitment in New York State. Psychiatric Services (Washington, D.C.), 62(5), 504–508. https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.62.5.pss6205_0504

Information source