Actively Recruiting
Improving Mental Health Treatment for Individuals in Crisis Interacting With the Criminal-Legal System
Led by Cambridge Health Alliance ยท Updated on 2026-06-04
1040
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
C
Cambridge Health Alliance
Lead Sponsor
M
Michigan State University
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are investigating how to improve mental health treatment for people in crisis who interact with the criminal-legal system, focusing on suicide prevention and better care coordination across healthcare, legal, and community systems. The study aims to address challenges in tracking and helping individuals who move between jails, police, and healthcare providers, with the goal of reducing suicide rates in the U.S. The trial includes three study groups: Treatment as Usual (TAU) using electronic health record reviews to identify police involvement; the FSJS group involving mental health-focused police follow-up and community partnerships; and the FSJS+Navigator group which adds a community health worker in the Emergency Department to improve communication and support. Participants are identified based on police contact and emergency department visits, with age ranges from 18 to 100 years. Participants will be assessed at the start and after 12 months for suicide attempts and suicide risk using specialized questionnaires. Researchers will also track interactions with the criminal legal system and healthcare usage over one year. The study includes ongoing monitoring and follow-up to evaluate mental health outcomes and service use, with a total participation period of 12 months.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Improving Mental Health Treatment for Individuals in Crisis Interacting With the Criminal-Legal System
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Cambridge Health Alliance patients aged 18 to 100
- For Treatment as Usual arm: patients from Everett, Chelsea, Somerville, Medford, Malden, or Winthrop with police involvement between 2009 and 2025
- For FSJS arm: patients from Cambridge with contact with Cambridge Police Department between 2009 and 2025
- For FSJS+Navigator arm: patients aged 18-100 brought to the Emergency Department under police supervision for psychiatric evaluation or mental health-related police calls
- Individuals must have documented police or criminal legal involvement during the study period
You will not qualify if you...
- Patients residing in Cambridge are excluded from the Treatment as Usual arm
- Individuals under age 18
- Individuals with no identified criminal legal involvement during the study period
- Anyone incarcerated at Middlesex Jail/Prison not released by December 31, 2025 (TAU and FSJS arms)
- Individuals incarcerated during the study (FSJS+Navigator arm)
- Individuals entering the Emergency Department not under police supervision, including voluntary psychiatric admissions (FSJS+Navigator arm)
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
screening and enrollment visit
Duration - Up to 12 months
Participants receive one of three interventions: Treatment as Usual involving identification through chart review, FSJS involving police department follow-up and crisis intervention training, or FSJS plus Navigator intervention adding an Emergency Department-based Systems Navigator to improve coordination of mental health services.
Assessments at baseline and 12 months
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Cambridge Health Alliance
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, 02141
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
B
Benjamin Cook
T
Taylor Witkowski
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Model
SEQUENTIAL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
3
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