Mental Health Disorders among Jail Inmates: Prevalence, Impact on Recidivism, Institutional Misconduct, and Gender Differences
Presenter Type
UNO Undergraduate Student
Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0003-4087-5322
Advisor Information
Dr. Emily M. Wright
Location
MBSC Dodge Room 302A - G
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Start Date
4-3-2022 12:30 PM
End Date
4-3-2022 1:45 PM
Abstract
Objective:
Mental health disorders are significant predictors of maladaptive outcomes such as aggression, criminal behavior, institutional misconduct, and recidivism among the jail population. Upon release, offenders who suffer from mental health disorders may also have difficulty adjusting to supervision in the community, or staying away from criminal behavior, which in turn, may lead to their recidivism. These disorders are theorized to be more prevalent and problematic among women in correctional settings than among men.
Data/Methods: This study employed intake data from 2015 (N = 1,368) from a Midwestern County Jail. Descriptive statistics were provided for the “total” sample (men and women combined), as well as for men and women, separately. Gender differences were compared regarding recidivism, institutional misconduct, mental health disorders, and other measures of risk. Logistic regression models were conducted to examine the independent effects of mental health disorders on recidivism and institutional misconduct among the “total” sample, and for men and women separately.
Results: The results indicated that for the outcome recidvism psychological impairment was not significant for females, but was highly significant for males. For the outcome institutional misconduct, psychological impairment was significant for both males and females.
Conclusions/Implications: The findings of this study suggest that mental health disorders should be important considerations for jail administrators. They are also significantly related to recidivism and institutional misconduct, thus, programming for both males and females is recommended.
Scheduling Link
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Mental Health Disorders among Jail Inmates: Prevalence, Impact on Recidivism, Institutional Misconduct, and Gender Differences
MBSC Dodge Room 302A - G
Objective:
Mental health disorders are significant predictors of maladaptive outcomes such as aggression, criminal behavior, institutional misconduct, and recidivism among the jail population. Upon release, offenders who suffer from mental health disorders may also have difficulty adjusting to supervision in the community, or staying away from criminal behavior, which in turn, may lead to their recidivism. These disorders are theorized to be more prevalent and problematic among women in correctional settings than among men.
Data/Methods: This study employed intake data from 2015 (N = 1,368) from a Midwestern County Jail. Descriptive statistics were provided for the “total” sample (men and women combined), as well as for men and women, separately. Gender differences were compared regarding recidivism, institutional misconduct, mental health disorders, and other measures of risk. Logistic regression models were conducted to examine the independent effects of mental health disorders on recidivism and institutional misconduct among the “total” sample, and for men and women separately.
Results: The results indicated that for the outcome recidvism psychological impairment was not significant for females, but was highly significant for males. For the outcome institutional misconduct, psychological impairment was significant for both males and females.
Conclusions/Implications: The findings of this study suggest that mental health disorders should be important considerations for jail administrators. They are also significantly related to recidivism and institutional misconduct, thus, programming for both males and females is recommended.