Recidivism among offenders with developmental disabilities participating in a case management program.
This study examined recidivism, defined as arrests, among 252 clients who were accepted into a case management program for offenders with developmental disabilities. Overall, 40% of clients were arrested while participating in the program, and 34% were arrested within 6 months after case closure. The crimes for which clients were arrested tended to be minor: 21% were for probation or parole violations not associated with new criminal acts, 39% were for misdemeanors, 27% were nonviolent felonies, and 12% were for felonies against persons. Clients who completed the program (N=115) were less likely to be arrested after case closure than those who dropped out of the program (N=112), 25 and 43%, respectively. Other factors associated with arrests after case closure included having a developmental disability other than mental retardation, living in an urban area, being referred to the program by a criminal justice agency or through a private referral rather than a social service agency, and being arrested while in the program. Implications are discussed for service provision and evaluation of programs that work with offenders with developmental disabilities.
School of Social Service, Saint Louis University, 3550 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103, USA. linhorsd@slu.edu
Donald M
DM
Linhorst
Tami A
TA
McCutchen
Leslie
L
Bennett
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019090:Case Management; D003415:Crime; D003416:Criminal Law; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012947:Social Work