Fairness Issues in Law and Mental Health: Directions for Future Social Work Research

Authors

Jose B. Ashford, Arizona State University
Jane Holschuh, Humboldt State University

Keywords

Procedural justice, law and mental health, therapeutic jurisprudence, treatment courts

Abstract

Concepts from the procedural justice literature in social psychology are examined that offer useful guidance for social work researchers with interests in investigating informal adjudications, speciality treatment courts, and other areas of the administrative process previously neglected in mental health services research. These theoretical concepts are offered as an alternative to the therapeutic jurisprudence framework being adopted by some social workers in the field of law and mental health. The issues outlined in this paper also draw on the health services and psychotherapy literature to highlight issues involving process and procedure as social justice and their significance for advancing a new role for social work researchers in the field of law and mental health research.

Recommended Citation

Ashford, Jose B. and Holschuh, Jane (2006) "Fairness Issues in Law and Mental Health: Directions for Future Social Work Research," The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare: Vol. 33: Iss. 4, Article 11.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15453/0191-5096.3208
Available at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/jssw/vol33/iss4/11