Suchergebnisse

Abstract. Background: When comparted with the general population, the suicide rate in correctional populations is elevated. While predictors of suicide are well researched in jail and prison populations, much less work has been done to examine predictors of suicide in community corrections samples where 80% of the US correctional population is currently supervised. Aims: The goal of this study was to determine factors associated with suicide risk in a community corrections sample. Method: Self-reported current ideation was examined in a sample of 512 individuals under supervision. Results: When univariate associations between current suicidal ideation and predictor variables were examined, current suicidal ideation was associated with being female, being White, reporting an increased level of stress, reporting an increased level of depression, meeting criteria for an anxiety disorder, an increased number of physical health complaints, and self-report of family dysfunction. In a multivariate analysis predicting suicide risk, only meeting criteria for an anxiety disorder, an increased number of physical health complaints, and self-report of family dysfunction were significant. Conclusion: Mental and physical health complaints as well as self-report of family dysfunction are salient predictors of suicide risk in the community corrections population.

AbstractSystem avoidance is a concept that individual contact with the criminal legal system causes avoidance of other social institutions. Negative attitudes about the criminal legal system and subsequent mistrust in healthcare systems or providers have only been studied in adults. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the association between healthcare utilization and youth-reported negative criminal legal attitudes stratified by gender and race in adolescents. Adolescents from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study self-reported attitudes involving legal cynicism, police legitimacy, and healthcare utilization. Logistic regressions were estimated to examine the associations between youth-reported criminal legal attitudes involving legal cynicism and police legitimacy, healthcare utilization, and sociodemographics. Only among non-white girls were negative criminal legal attitudes significantly associated with reduced likelihood of healthcare utilization during the previous 12 months (aOR = 0.55, p ≤ 0.01). Negative criminal legal attitudes in non-white girls reduced the odds of healthcare utilization, which supports the concept of system avoidance of institutions. This has implications for policymakers as they enact laws on crime and surveillance, especially in minority communities, as views on the criminal legal institution can impact other facets of life. More research is needed to directly explore this relationship beyond cross-sectional studies.

Background: Community corrections populations are a high-risk group who carry multiple suicide risk factors. Aims: To identify factors correlated with historical suicide attempts and ideation among African-American men, African-American women, White men, and White women in a community corrections population. Method: Self-report data from 18,753 enrollees in community corrections were analyzed. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine associations between historical suicidal ideation and attempts among the four demographic groups. Results: Participants with historical suicide attempts tended to be younger, White, female, be taking psychotropic medication, have a history of physical or sexual abuse, and meet criteria for dependence on alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, opioids, or sedatives. Five variables were commonly associated with suicide attempts for all four race/gender groups: younger age, being on disability or retirement, taking psychotropic medication, history of sexual or physical abuse, and cocaine dependence. Other demographic variables had race or gender specificities as risk factors for suicide attempts. Conclusions: Participants had high rates of historical suicide attempts with unique correlates differentiating attempters from ideators among different racial and gender groups. Cocaine dependence was universal predictor of suicide attempts, while other substance dependencies show specific racial and gender profiles associated with suicide attempts.

Findings from the National Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies (CJ-DATS) National Criminal Justice Treatment Practices survey are examined to describe types of services provided by three types of prisons: those that serve a cross-section of offenders, those that specialize in serving offenders with special psychosocial and medical needs, and those that specialize in serving legal status or gender specific populations. Information is presented on the prevalence and type of specialized prisons and services provided to offenders as reported by wardens and other facility directors drawn from a nationally representative sample of prisons. Additional analyses explore organizational factors that differentiate prisons that serve specialized populations including staffing, training, other resources, leadership, and climate for change and innovation. Implications for expanding and improving services for special populations in correctional settings and the values of specialized prisons are discussed.

Background: Individuals under community corrections have multiple risk factors for mortality including exposure to a criminal environment, drug use, social stress, and a lack of medical care that predispose them to accidents, homicides, medical morbidities, and suicide. The literature suggests that prior suicidal behavior may be a particularly potent risk factor for mortality among individuals in the criminal justice system. Aims: This study looked to extend the link between history of a suicide attempt and future mortality in a community corrections population. Method: Using an archival dataset (N = 18,260) collected from 2002 to 2007 of individuals being monitored under community corrections supervision for an average of 217 days (SD = 268), we examined the association between past history of a suicide attempt and mortality. Results: A Cox Proportional Hazard Model controlling for age, race, gender, and substance dependence indicated that past history of a suicide attempt was independently associated with time to mortality, and demonstrated the second greatest effect after gender. Conclusion: These data suggest the need for a greater focus on screening and preventive services, particularly for individuals with a history of suicidal behavior, so as to reduce the risk of mortality in community corrections populations.