A comparison of criminogenic risk factors and psychiatric symptomatology between psychiatric inpatients with and without criminal justice involvement

Structural barriers explain the link between negative community re-entry experiences and motives for illegal behavior in street-identified Black men and women

This study examines how the re-entry process is related to structural barriers in the community and to motives for engaging in illegal behavior-two key risk factors for recidivism. We analyzed survey data collected on perceptions of community re-entry, employment opportunities, neighborhood violence, and illegal behavior motives from 379 formerly incarcerated and street-identified Black-American community members residing in Wilmington, Delaware (Mage  = 32.3/8.9 years old; 77.0% men; 100% Black) by employing Street Participatory Action Research (Street PAR) methodology. We found that negative perceptions of re-entry correlated positively with (i) hardship caused by structural barriers in the community, specifically blocked employment opportunities and neighborhood violence, and (ii) motives for engaging in illegal behavior. Notably, the link between negative perceptions of re-entry and motives for illegal behavior became significantly weaker when the influence of structural barriers on these individual-level factors was included in a multivariate model. Results suggest negative views of the re-entry process reflect the resource-scarce and stressful environments people are living in, and structural barriers can account for the relationship between negative re-entry experiences and why individuals are motivated to engage in illegal behavior. Findings underscore the importance of improving the economic conditions of communities with high numbers of returning citizens.

Criminal risk and mental illness in psychiatric inpatient units: An opportunity to provide psychological services for unmet criminogenic needs

Although the overrepresentation of people with mental illness in the criminal justice system is known, research is needed to identify the frequency of criminal justice involvement and criminogenic treatment needs in inpatient populations to improve continuity of care and access to appropriate treatments. The purpose of this study is to document the frequency of criminal justice involvement among people receiving inpatient community care, as has been done for persons with mental illness in correctional institutions, and to test the association between criminogenic risk and psychiatric symptomatology. The present study uses two samples (n = 94 and n = 142) of adults from two separate acute psychiatric inpatient hospitals in Texas. Data on psychiatric symptoms, mental health history, criminal risk, and criminal justice history were gathered from file review and self-report. Linear and negative binomial regressions were used to test associations of interest. In both samples, the frequency of prior criminal justice involvement was over 50%. The current results indicate there is a significant, positive association between measures of criminal risk and psychiatric symptoms. These findings highlight the need to address the reciprocal association between mental illness and criminal risk among people receiving inpatient psychiatric treatment with appropriate assessment and treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Relationships between substance use disorders, 'severe mental illness' and re-arrest in a county detention facility: A 4-year follow-up cohort study

BACKGROUND

A growing body of literature demonstrates strong association between poor mental health and criminal recidivism, but research from county jails is limited.

AIMS

Our aim was to examine the relationship between re-arrest and severe mental illnesses-schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder-together and separately and with substance use disorders, separately and as comorbid conditions, in a mid-sized county jail cohort in the southeastern United States.

METHODS

We examined the full cohort of 8097 individuals who were booked into the County Detention Facility between 31 January 2014 and 31 January 2015. Their incarceration data were merged with data from the local health system to investigate the presence of severe mental illness and substance use disorder diagnoses. Re-arrest data were tracked for 4 years after the index arrest.

RESULTS

Approximately 60% of the cohort was re-arrested within 4 years. People with substance use disorders, with or without severe mental illness, had higher re-arrest rates than those with severe mental illness alone or neither diagnosis. Drug-associated arrests did not explain this finding.

CONCLUSIONS

Using detailed mental illness diagnosis data with a complete cohort of detained arrestees, we have shown the wide range of need among such individuals. By demonstrating that drug-associated crimes per se do not drive repeated arrest, we underscore a need to examine other factors that promote the cycle of repeated arrest in this population. Each individual requires treatment tailored to their personal psychiatric and criminogenic needs.

Association between perceived social support and suicide ideation distress among psychiatric inpatients: The role of thwarted interpersonal needs

INTRODUCTION

The interpersonal theory of suicide posits that thwarted belongingness (TB) and perceived burdensomeness (PB) are proximal risk factors for suicide ideation; however, there are mixed results regarding this hypothesis among psychiatric inpatients.

OBJECTIVE

The current study examined the mediating role of TB and PB in the relationship between perceived social support (i.e., support from family, friends, a significant other, and total) and suicide ideation distress among psychiatric inpatients.

METHODS

Participants (short-term psychiatric inpatients; N = 139) were administered self-report assessments cross-sectionally.

RESULTS

Nonparametric mediation results indicated that the total (additive) indirect effects of TB and PB, in parallel, were significant in all models, yet there were only significant specific (unique) indirect effects of PB.

CONCLUSION

TB and PB, in combination, may be proximal risk factors for suicide ideation distress among psychiatric inpatients with lower perceived social support from family, friends, a significant other, and in total. These findings are congruent with the interpersonal theory of suicide's propositions that the combination of TB and PB increases the risk for suicide ideation. Clinicians may consider using interventions that target increasing perceived social support and decreasing TB and PB (i.e., cognitive behavioral therapy and social skills training) for this population.

Criminal Legal Involvement: A Cause and Consequence of Social Determinants of Health

The overrepresentation of people of color and individuals with serious mental illnesses across all levels of the criminal legal system results from the effects of social and economic forces, including social determinants of health and behavioral health, as well as systemic racism. Conversely, criminal legal contact creates and exacerbates these social stresses, with associated consequences to general medical and behavioral health. In this column, the authors explore the relationship between social determinants of health and criminal legal contact through the lens of recent literature on criminal recidivism and describe the ways in which criminal legal contact is itself a social determinant that drives mental health outcomes.