SOCIAL SELECTION AND MENTAL-HEALTH-SERVICE UTILIZATION AMONG MENTALLY-ILL PAROLEES - A RESEARCH AGENDA

The purpose of this article is to describe a conceptual and methodolog ical approach to research on mental health service utilization by paro lees with mental illness. This approach can be used by researchers and policy makers to understand and improve the interface between crimina l justice and mental health organizations. We justify the need for res earch on this population; discuss the conceptual framework which draws on social selection and organizational theory; describe methodologica l problems; and discuss implications of the research.