Recidivism rates among mentally ill inmates: impact of the Connecticut Offender Reentry Program

J Correct Health Care. 2012 Jan;18(1):20-8. doi: 10.1177/1078345811421117. Epub 2011 Nov 17.

Abstract

This study compares data from the Connecticut Offender Reentry Program (CORP) and retrospective data for inmates who received standard treatment planning services from the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addictions Services (DMHAS). Analysis of DMHAS data investigated characteristics (demographic, psychiatric, and prison classification scores) and recidivism rates of 883 individuals. A program evaluation was later completed on a separate cohort of 88 individuals who participated in CORP. Comparison of the study results found that 14.1% of the CORP participants were rearrested within 6 months of discharge compared to 28.3% of the DMHAS group. This study concluded that younger age and having a co-occurring substance use disorder appear to be predictors of recidivism. A distinctly smaller percentage of CORP participants were recidivistic, indicating support for specialized reentry programs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Connecticut
  • Crime / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Health Behavior
  • Humans
  • Ill-Housed Persons / statistics & numerical data
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / therapy*
  • Mental Health Services / organization & administration*
  • Mental Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
  • Middle Aged
  • Prisons / statistics & numerical data*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Self Care / methods
  • Sex Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult