OBJECTIVES: To describe estimated health resource (HR) and criminal justice (CJ) system costs for patients with schizophrenia recently released from incarceration that are participating in a clinical trial. METHODS: Interim baseline HR and CJ events collected via a resource use questionnaire from a clinical study of individuals with schizophrenia recently released from incarceration were analyzed.  HR and CJ utilization were evaluated for the most recent CJ event prior to study enrollment, the time between this CJ event and enrollment, and the year prior to this CJ event (pre-period).  HR and CJ cost estimates were obtained from administrative claims and published literature then applied to the utilization data pro-rated to 365 days.  Costs were summarized descriptively using a state government payer perspective and presented in 2011 US dollars. RESULTS: Mean total cost (n=422) in the year prior to enrollment was $28,631(SD $20,680; Median $23,445).  Mean cost of the qualifying CJ event was $14,824 (SD $14,846; Median $10,819).  The top 3 most frequent CJ qualifying events were parole/probation violation, drug charges, and disorderly conduct/vagrancy/public intoxication. Average duration of observation for time periods before and after the qualifying CJ event was 243 days (SD 103) and 66 days (SD 72), respectively.  Estimated mean HR cost in the period prior to CJ qualifying event (pre-period) was $2,485 (SD $4,959; Median $929), and mean CJ cost was $6,668 (SD $12,401; Median $0).  Among those with at least one CJ event in the pre-period (n=183), average CJ cost was $15,376 (SD $14,870; Median $11,095). Mean HR cost between the CJ event and enrollment was $2,030 (SD $3,452; Median $846). CONCLUSIONS: From a state government perspective, mental health related HR and CJ contacts are costly and are potentially avoidable.  These data can be used to model HR and CJ costs in a population with schizophrenia.