Gender differences in reoffending after discharge from medium-secure units. National cohort study in England and Wales.
BACKGROUND
Previous research has shown that there are gender differences in reoffending after discharge from medium-secure units, but these have not been adequately explained.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate gender differences in reoffending after discharge from medium-secure psychiatric units.


METHODS
All people discharged from medium-secure units in England and Wales between April 1997 and March 1998 were followed up for 1 year (n=959; 12% women). Reoffending was estimated by collecting reconviction data from the Home Office's Offenders' Index or from files at the mental health unit up to 2 years after discharge.


RESULTS
Women were less likely than men to be reconvicted within 2 years of discharge (9% v. 16%, OR=0.49, 95% CI 0.25-0.98). Adjustments for history of self-harm, drug or alcohol problems and previous offending substantially reduced the gender difference. In the full model the OR was 0.97 (95% CI 0.45-2.12).


CONCLUSIONS
Some or all of the gender differences in reoffending between men and women are explained by self-harm, alcohol and drug problems and previous criminal history.
Maden
Anthony
A
Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK. a.maden@ic.ac.uk
Skapinakis
Petros
P
Lewis
Glyn
G
Scott
Fiona
F
Jamieson
Elizabeth
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D003415:Crime; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011330:Prisons; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology