Kimberly A. Houser

The Effects of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders on Institutional Misconduct Among Female Inmates

Mentally ill offenders are disproportionately involved in prison misconduct. Although mental illness is recognized as a risk factor for poor prison adjustment, the additive nature of mental illness co-occurring with substance use disorders has not yet been examined. Using data from the Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities, we compare the institutional misconduct experiences of female inmates with co-occurring disorders (CODs) to those for inmates with singular disorders or no disorders. Bivariate and multivariate analyses indicated that the risk of misbehavior was higher for inmates with mental illness combined with a drug dependence/abuse disorder than for inmates with singular disorders, but their disciplinary experiences did not statistically differ. These findings suggest that inmates with CODs may pose a uniquely complex challenge for prison administration, which has important implications for corrections policy and practice.

Gender Differences in Prison-Based Drug Treatment Participation

Prisons inmates have high rates of substance abuse and associated social and health problems, and a concomitant high need for drug treatment while incarcerated. Female inmates have an even greater treatment need, yet most inmates do not participate in treatment while incarcerated. Using data from a nationally representative sample of prison inmates, this article examines the impact of gender on prison treatment participation and gender differences in the factors associated with clinical treatment participation. Females were significantly more likely to participate in prison drug treatment than males, controlling for other factors. For both males and females, severity of drug problems predicted participation in treatment. For males but not females, race was associated with prison treatment participation, and among those with drug abuse or dependence, females with co-occurring mental health problems were more likely to participate in treatment. Implications for prison assessment and treatment policies, and future research, are discussed.

Examining the Association Between Co-Occurring Disorders and Seriousness of Misconduct by Female Prison Inmates

Although studies have consistently demonstrated mentally ill offenders to be disproportionately involved in misconduct within correctional facilities, research is limited on the potential exacerbating effects of co-occurring disorders (CODs) on inmate behavior. With the vast number of offenders who have comorbid psychiatric and substance use disorders, it is essential that we understand whether the clinically interactive nature of CODs may present increased security and management challenges for correctional administrators. Using data from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PADOC), we compared the institutional misconduct experiences of female inmates with CODs to those for inmates with singular disorders or no disorders. The findings of our study support prior research showing mental illness as a risk factor for prison misconduct. The results further suggest that the presence of both a substance use disorder and a mental illness exacerbates the risk of negative behaviors beyond the singular disorder of mental illness.

Individual-Level Predictors of Community Aftercare Completion

The importance of prison treatment for substance-using offenders in reducing recidivism and relapse has garnered much attention and acceptance over the past 30 years. The role of community aftercare as a continuum of the treatment process has been broadly acknowledged as essential in enhancing posttreatment success. However, our understanding of individual-level factors influencing a client’s willingness to participate and engage in aftercare remains limited. This article presents findings of individual-level factors found to be associated with successful completion of aftercare among a sample of 259 ex-offenders admitted to aftercare following 12 months of in-prison drug treatment.

The effects of treatment exposure on prison misconduct for female prisoners with substance use, mental health, and co-occurring disorders

Inmates with mental health and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders present difficult challenges for correctional institutions and treatment providers. The complex nature of co-occurring disorders further exacerbates these difficulties and is associated with poor treatment compliance and increased likelihood of engaging in institutional misconduct. The current study examines whether exposure to prison-based treatment reduces involvement in prison misconduct among a sample of female prison inmates controlling for disorder types (i.e. mental health disorder only, substance use disorder only, and co-occurring mental and substance use disorders). Findings revealed that with exposure of more than 181 days of treatment, the odds of misconduct involvement among females with co-occurring disorders more than doubled compared to receiving no treatment. This finding is at odds with treatment retention literature that suggests that a minimum period of time in treatment is needed to affect post-treatment success. Possible explanations for these findings and policy implications are discussed.

The Influence of Neighborhood Risk Factors on Parolee Recidivism in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Recidivism research has largely addressed individual-level attributes, neglecting the role of the neighborhood context. Following a sample of 4,851 parolees returning to the City of Philadelphia in 2007 and 2008, the current study examines the role of the neighborhood context and nonresidential land uses (both risk and protective factors) in reincarceration and time to reincarceration. Although our findings suggest limited support for the neighborhood context in explaining reincarceration, we found that the presence of beer bars and liquor outlets within walking distance of a parolee’s home increased their likelihood of reincarceration and reduced their time in the community.

The Multilevel Impacts of Proximate Crime Generators and Attractors on Individual-Level Perceptions of Crime Risk:

Fear of crime has been associated with mental illness, poor physical health, reduced social cohesion and informal social control. Prior studies examining variance in levels of fear have been explained at both the individual and neighborhood levels. Although there is a growing body of research examining the association between specific land uses and perceptions of risk, these studies have generally measured land uses individually rather than in a grouped theoretical context or in terms of homogeneous categories; the latter are hampered by inadequate theoretical application and a failure to recognize differences in the effects of land uses that share common characteristics. Using hierarchical linear modeling, the current study examined whether the proximity and volume of theoretically driven criminogenic land uses influence perceptions of crime risk.