By Ye In (Jane) Hwang , Nabila Chowdhury,  Colman O’Driscoll , Stephen Allnutt,  Tony Butler 

This report responds to an urgent need to enhance the management of violence among individuals with psychosis in Australia. It reviews treatment pathways, emphasising community-based care over incarceration. The Mental Health Review Tribunals (MHRTs) play a vital role in treatment oversight for those with psychosis in Australia and worldwide who are at risk of violence, with community treatment orders (CTOs) identified as effective harm prevention strategies. An exploratory study analysed data from 141,302 individuals diagnosed with psychosis in New South Wales from 2001 to 2021, revealing that 26.8 percent had MHRT contact due to violence risk, with 14.2 percent placed on CTOs. Marginalised groups were notably under-represented in MHRT interactions. Findings show higher health service use and offending behaviour among those in contact with the MHRT, highlighting the need for focused research on CTO effectiveness and equitable service access. The report advocates for a multidisciplinary approach between health and justice sectors to improve outcomes for this population.

Report to the Criminology Research Advisory Council Grant: CRG 32/21–22 Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2025. 40.