Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice

Among 280 felony drug sale offenders with substance use disorders, self-reported psychiatric treatment, medication, and symptoms yielded estimates that 40% to 60% had comorbid psychiatric disorders. Two thirds reported recent psychiatric symptoms or emotional problems, or were troubled by these symptoms/problems, and more than one third of them felt they needed psychiatric treatment; only 4 were currently receiving treatment. More than two thirds of those reporting current symptomatology and a need for mental health treatment had never received treatment. Offenders who reported a need for treatment were more likely to recently experience cognitive difficulties, mental or emotional problems, or be troubled by psychiatric symptoms. Those reporting current treatment need were more likely to have a history of outpatient psychiatric treatment. The strongest predictor for self-reported psychiatric treatment need was being troubled by psychiatric symptoms, independently or in combination with recent cognitive difficulties, experiencing any emotional problems recently, or outpatient treatment history.

Eight programs are described representing a variety of approaches to diversion in terms of point of criminal justice intervention (prebooking or postbooking), degree of criminal justice coercion, type of linkages provided to community-based treatment, and approaches to treatment retention. The authors also describe the characteristics of almost 1000 study participants who were diverted into these programs over an 18-month period and examine the extent to which systematic differences are observed between prebooking and postbooking subjects, as well as among sites in each of the diversion types. Results suggest that prebooking and postbooking diversion subjects were similar on most mental health indicators, but differed substantially on measures of social functioning and substance use and criminality, with postbooking subjects scoring worse on social functioning and reporting more serious substance use and criminal histories. Variability among sites was also observed, indicating differences in local preferences for the types of individuals deemed appropriate for diversion.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in U.S. jails; more than 400 jail inmates take their lives each year. Many risk factors for suicide are overrepresented in jail populations. The numbers of women incarcerated in the nation’s jails have increased dramatically in recent years. Yet most research on suicide has focused on males. This study assesses the rates and patterns of suicidal ideation and behavior among 1,272 women in jail. Overall, 53.7% reported suicidal ideation or suicidal behavior at some point in their lifetime. Non-Hispanic Whites were more likely than Hispanics to report thoughts of death (OR = 1.67), and more likely than African Americans to report wanting to die (OR = 1.59), thoughts of suicide (OR = 1.74), and previous suicide attempts (OR = 2.47). The authors discuss implications for research and the criminal justice system.

Recent research shows that drug-involved offenders engage in many health-risky behaviors, but relatively little is known about the impact of criminal history on the health of these individuals. In this study, criminal history and health information was collected from 661 male drug-abusing prisoners. Findings showed that having a more extensive criminal history was associated with higher rates of overall physical health problems but not mental health problems. Although no relationship between mental health and crime was observed, future research on the connection between psychological problems and criminal history is discussed. Years of lifetime use of five different drugs was positively related to criminal history. In terms of health services utilization, offenders with more serious criminal histories were more likely to have received previous medical treatment in a hospital emergency room and to have received treatment for drug or alcohol abuse.

The problems of mental illness among the inmate population in the United States have increased in the past three decades, and the federal courts are increasingly faced with individual prisoners, seeking redress in the courts, who present extraordinary challenges to the system because of their mental illnesses. This article details the story of one such prisoner and the tragic consequences of his mental illness as well as his efforts to obtain court intervention to assist him in protecting what he believed, in his distorted view, were his religious rights. The article calls for a recognition of the social and economic costs of failing to provide appropriate treatment for those who are mentally ill and especially the costs to the courts and the prison system for those suffering such illnesses while in prison.

More than a half-million juveniles are under community supervision as a result of violent or delinquent behavior. Research has shown that treatment can reduce their risk of reoffending. This article reviews and distills the key lessons from hundreds of empirical studies and metaanalyses and applies them to practice. The author argues for conducting systematic and developmentally informed risk assessments, selectively assigning intensive intervention to the highest risk offenders, focusing on criminogenic treatment targets, using proven interventions and treatment strategies, and applying rigor in implementation and follow-up.