Citation

Blitz CL, Wolff N, Pan KY, Pogorzelski W. Am. J. Public Health 2005; 95(10): 1741-1746.

Affiliation

Center for Mental Health Services & Criminal Justice Research, Rutgers University, 30 College Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. cblitz@ifh.rutgers.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, American Public Health Association)

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.2004.059733

PMID

2343947

PMCID

PMC1404724

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We describe behavioral health diagnoses and community release patterns among adult male and female inmates in New Jersey prisons and assess their implications for correctional health care and community reentry. METHODS: We used clinical and classification data on a census of "special needs" inmates (those with behavioral health disorders) in New Jersey (n=3189) and a census of all special needs inmates released to New Jersey communities over a 12-month period (n=974). RESULTS: Virtually all adult inmates with special needs had at least 1 Axis I mental disorder, and 68% of these had at least 1 additional Axis I mental disorder, a personality disorder, or addiction problem (67% of all male and 75% of all female special needs inmates). Of those special needs inmates released, 25% returned to the most disadvantaged counties in New Jersey (27% of all male and 18% of all female special needs inmates). CONCLUSIONS: Two types of clustering were found: gender-specific clustering of disorders among inmates and spatial clustering of ex-offenders in impoverished communities. These findings suggest a need for gendered treatment strategies within correctional settings and need for successful reentry strategies.

Language: en