Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Risk of Reincarceration Among Prisoners with Co-occurring Severe Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders

Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study examined whether the presence of a comorbid substance use disorder increased the risk of criminal recidivism and reincarceration in prison inmates with a severe mental illness. Our analyses of more than 61,000 Texas prison inmates showed that those with a co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorder exhibited a substantially higher risk of multiple incarcerations over a 6-year period compared to inmates with psychiatric disorders alone or substance use disorders alone. Further research is needed to identify the factors associated with criminal recidivism among released prisoners with co-occurring disorders.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baillargeon, J., Binswanger, I. A., Penn, J. V., Williams, B. A., & Murray, O. J. (2009). Psychiatric disorders and repeat incarcerations: The revolving prison door. American Journal of Psychiatry, 166, 103–109.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Broome, K., Knight, K., Joe, G. W., & Simpson, D. D. (1996). Evaluating the drug-abusing probationer: Clinical interview versus self-administered assessment. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 23, 593–606.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chandler, R. K., Fletcher, B. W., & Volkow, N. D. (2009). Treating drug abuse and addiction in the criminal justice system: Improving public health and safety. JAMA, 301, 183–190.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, P. M., Wang, E. W., Holzer, C. E., Thomas, C., & des Cruser, A. (2001). The prevalence of mental illness in prison. Administration and Policy In Mental Health, 29, 21–40.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Drake, R. E., Mueser, K. T., Clark, R. E., & Wallach, M. A. (1996). The course, treatment, and outcome of substance disorder in persons with severe mental illness. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 66, 42–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fazel, S., Bains, P., & Doll, H. (2006). Substance abuse and dependence in prisoners: A systematic review. Addiction, 101, 181–191.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hartwell, S. W. (2004). Comparison of offenders with mental illness only and offenders with dual diagnoses. Psychiatric Services, 55, 145–150.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoge, S. K. (2007). Providing transition and outpatient services to the mentally ill released from correctional institutions. In R. B. Greifinger (Ed.), Public health behind bars: From prisons to communities (pp. 461–477). New York: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, R. C., Nelson, C. B., McGonagle, K. A., Edlund, M. J., Frank, R. G., & Leaf, P. J. (1996). The epidemiology of co-occurring addictive and mental disorders: Implications for prevention and service utilization. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 66, 17–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kushel, M. B., Hahn, J. A., Evans, J. L., Bangsberg, D. R., & Moss, A. R. (2005). Revolving doors: Imprisonment among the homeless. American Journal of Public Health, 95, 1747–1752.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • La Vigne, N., & Parthasarathy, B. (2005). Prisoner reentry and residential mobility. Washington, DC: Urban Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamb, H. R., Weinberger, L. E., & Gross, B. H. (2004). Mentally ill persons in the criminal justice system: Some perspectives. Psychiatric Quarterly, 75, 107–126.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mallik-Kane, K., & Visher, C. A. (2008). Health and prisoner reentry: How physical, mental, and substance abuse conditions shape the process of reintegration. Washington, DC: Urban Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • McLellan, A. T., Luborsky, L., Woody, G. E., & O’Brien, C. P. (1980). An improved diagnostic evaluation instrument for substance abuse patients. The addiction severity index. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 168, 26–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McLellan, A. T., Luborsky, L., Cacciola, J., Griffith, J., Evans, F., Barr, H. L., et al. (1985). New data from the addiction severity index: Reliability and validity in three centers. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 173, 412–423.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McLellan, A. T., Kushner, H., Metzger, D., Peters, R., Smith, I., Grissom, G., et al. (1992). The fifth edition of the addiction severity index. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 9, 199–213.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McNiel, D. A., Binder, R. L., & Robinson, J. C. (2005). Incarceration associated with homelessness, mental disorder, and co-occurring substance abuse. Psychiatric Services, 56, 840–846.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Metraux, S., & Culhane, D. P. (2004). Homeless shelter use and reincarceration following prison release. Criminology & Public Policy, 3, 139–160.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mueser, K. T., Drake, R. E., & Miles, K. M. (1997). The course and treatment of substance use disorder in persons with severe mental illness. In L. S. Onken, J. D. Blaine, S. Genser, & A. M. Horton (Eds.), Treatment of drug-dependent individuals with comorbid mental disorders (NIDA Research Monograph 172). Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mumola, C. J., & Karberg, J. C. (2006). Drug use and dependence, state and federal prisoners, 2004. In Bureau of Justice Statistics Bulletin (Publication no. NCJ 213530). Washington, DC: US Department of Justice.

  • National GAINS Center. (1997). The prevalence of co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders in the criminal justice system. Delmar, NY: National GAINS Center for People with Co-Occurring Disorders in the Criminal Justice System.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osher, F. C., & Drake, R. E. (1996). Reversing a history of unmet needs: Approaches to care for persons with co-occurring addictive and mental disorders. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 66, 4–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peters, R. H., & Hills, H. A. (1993). Inmates with co-occurring substance abuse and mental health disorders. In H. J. Steadman & J. J. Cocozza (Eds.), Mental Illness in America’s prisons (pp. 159–212). Seattle, WA: National Coalition for the Mentally Ill in the Criminal Justice System.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, R. H., & Hills, H. A. (1997). Intervention strategies for offenders with co-occurring disorders: What works. Delmar, NY: National GAINS Center for People with Co-Occurring Disorders in the Criminal Justice System.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peters, R. H., Greenbaum, P. E., Edens, J. F., Carter, C. R., & Ortiz, M. M. (1998). Prevalence of DSM-IV substance abuse and dependence disorders among prison inmates. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 24, 573–587.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peters, R. H., Greenbaum, P. E., Steinberg, M. L., Carter, C. R., Ortiz, M. M., Fry, B. C., et al. (2000). Effectiveness of screening instruments in detecting substance use disorders among prisoners. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 18, 349–358.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pew Center on the States. (2008). One in 100: Behind bars in America 2008. Retrieved Feb 4, 2008, from http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/report_detail.aspx?id=35904.

  • Pinta, E. R. (2001). The prevalence of serious mental disorders among U.S. prisoners. In G. Landsberg & A. Smiley (Eds.), Forensic mental health: Working with offenders with mental illness (pp. 12-1–12-10). Kingston, NJ: Civic Research Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Regier, D. A., Farmer, M. E., Rae, D. S., Locke, B. Z., Keith, S. J., Judd, L. L., et al. (1990). Comorbidity of mental disorders with alcohol, other drug abuse. JAMA, 264, 2511–2518.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robins, L. N., & Regier, D. A. (1991). Psychiatric disorders in America: The epidemiologic catchment area study. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, D. D. (1995). TCU forms manual: Improving drug abuse treatment, assessment, and research (DATAR). Fort Worth, TX: Texas Christian University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, D. D., Knight, K., & Broome, K. M. (1997). TCU/CJ forms manual: Drug dependence screen and initial assessment. Fort Worth, TX: Texas Christian University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stokes, M., Davis, C. S., & Koch, G. G. (2000). Categorical data analysis using the SAS System (2nd ed.). Cary, NC: SAS.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veysey, B. M., & Bichler-Robertson, G. (2002). Prevalence estimates of psychiatric disorders in correctional settings. In The health status of soon-to-be-released inmates: A report to congress (Vol. 2, pp. 57–80). Chicago: National Commission on Correctional Health Care.

  • Watkins, K. E., Burnam, A., Kung, F.-Y., & Paddock, S. (2001). A national survey of care for persons with co-occurring mental and substance use disorders. Psychiatric Services, 52, 1062–1068.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Leonard Pechacek for assistance in writing and editing this manuscript. The research described in this publication was coordinated in part by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) research agreement (515-MR07). The contents of this manuscript reflect the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the TDCJ.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jacques Baillargeon.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Baillargeon, J., Penn, J.V., Knight, K. et al. Risk of Reincarceration Among Prisoners with Co-occurring Severe Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders. Adm Policy Ment Health 37, 367–374 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-009-0252-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-009-0252-9

Keywords

Navigation