Gender differences and risk of arrest among offenders with serious mental illness.
Despite the increasing number of men and women with serious mental illness (SMI) incarcerated in America's jails, little research exists on the role gender may play in arrest among persons with SMI. This study examined correlates of arrests among offenders with SMI, specifically the role of gender. County criminal justice records, as well as county and statewide social service archival databases, were used to identify jail inmates with SMI in a large urban county in Florida. Of the 3,769 inmates identified, 41% were female. This study identified three distinct classes of male and female offenders within which persons had similar trajectories of arrests over the 4-year study period representing those with minimal, low, and high arrest rates. Findings suggest some important differences between women and men in risk factors for re-arrests. Attention to these factors may improve the ability to prevent future recidivism among men and women with SMI.
Becker
Marion A
MA
Department of Aging and Mental Health Disparities, College of Community and Behavioral Sciences, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612-3807, USA. becker@fmhi.usf.edu
Andel
Ross
R
Boaz
Timothy
T
Constantine
Robert
R
D000328:Adult; D003415:Crime / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057237:Criminals / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D016495:Police; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult