Reexamining the Sequential Intercept Model: Incorporating Theory, Practice Insights, and Social Work Perspectives

Background and Purpose: People with mental illnesses (MI) are disproportionately represented across the criminal legal system (CLS) and regularly experience worse outcomes when compared to persons without MI. The Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) is a framework used to display six intervention points in the CLS where individuals with behavioral health issues can be diverted to social support services or treatment instead of traditional criminal case processing. As currently conceptualized, the SIM consists of several linear intercepts ranging from prevention of involvement with the CLS (i.e., pre-arrest) to community supervision and community reentry following incarceration. Despite the SIM being a valuable resource to numerous communities, the linear nature of the model can fail to fully represent an individual’s journey through the CLS and the necessity of collaboration across all parties and intercepts. Each intercept of the SIM presents an opportunity for interventions and policies to increase the use of community alternatives to incarceration and critically examine current practices. It is common for an individual to simultaneously be involved in multiple intercepts. Gaps in communication and collaboration often exist across law enforcement, program administrators, mental health professionals, community members, organizations, and other parties, contributing to missed opportunities to divert or reduce individuals’ involvement in the CLS. Additionally, the SIM is not theoretically based or empirically driven, but rather a roadmap of how the CLS operates, thereby limiting its transformative power.

Methods: Building on the existing evidence base, we reevaluate the originally proposed model, review the model’s evolution during the past 20 years, and incorporate relevant theory and practice insights, such as trauma-informed care, smart decarceration, social determinants of health, and Risk-Need-Responsivity, to propose a reconceptualized model that leverages the strengths of these various frameworks. Differentiation and comparisons to an abolitionist perspective are also explored. Similar to concept mapping, our process involved utilizing each contributor’s expertise and experience to provide insight into the reconceptualization of the SIM.

Results: We emphasize the need to view the intercepts cyclically, where individuals can have multiple touchpoints. At the center of the reconceptualized model we place an advisory board made up of representatives from each of the traditional representatives found within the intercepts (e.g., first responders, correctional staff, legal representatives, mental health professionals) and individuals from the community (e.g., family, peers, individuals with lived experience, community leaders). The therapeutic dance of bringing together a diverse group of community actors from various disciplines, positionality, and paradigms to enhance the well-being of the individuals in the system and the community is explored. Lastly, the need to incorporate theory and practice insights is examined.

Conclusion: This paper seeks to reexamine the SIM and its intended objectives, incorporate relevant theory and practice insights, and propose a reimagined visualization of the framework. Further advancement of the SIM requires identifying where social workers fit into this model, decentralizing the focus on criminal legal actors where appropriate, and infusing theory into how the model is conceptualized and implemented. Establishing a collaborative collection of community members is essential.