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Criminal Justice and Behavior
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Psychometric Properties of the Mental Health Screening Form Iii Within a Metropolitan Jail

Mark A. Ruiz

Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, mruiz{at}fmhi.usf.edu

Roger H. Peters

Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida

Gretchen M. Sanchez

Hillsborough County Sheriff 's Office

Jan P. Bates

Hillsborough County Sheriff 's Office

This study evaluated the psychometric performance and convergent validity of a screening instrument for mental health disorders, the Mental Health Screening Form III (MHSF-III), among inmates in a large metropolitan jail. The study examined item functioning, internal consistency, and convergent validity of the MHSF-III among 332 inmates enrolled in a jail addiction treatment program. Results indicated that the items were internally consistent and that the majority had acceptable item-total correlations and endorsement frequencies. The MHSF-III total score was significantly correlated with self-reported trauma history and self-reported mental health symptoms. Most items demonstrated strong convergence with similar constructs measured by the Personality Assessment Inventory (Morey, 2007). The instrument appears to be a promising mental health screen for jail settings. Clinical applications of the MHSF-III and possibilities for redesigning the instrument are discussed.

Key Words: Mental Health Screening Form III • offender mental health • reliability • validity • Personality Assessment Inventory

Criminal Justice and Behavior, Vol. 36, No. 6, 607-619 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0093854809334013
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