219010 Severe mental illness and contact with the criminal justice system: Toward an understanding of risk and protective factors

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 : 12:30 PM - 12:45 PM

Lisa Davis, LCSW, Doctoral candidate , Social Work, University of Southern California, Santa Monica, CA
Seth Kurzban, MSW, PhD , School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
John Brekke, PhD , School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Mentally ill individuals are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Impoverished social networks are a major risk factor for this population, yet no studies to date have examined whether the nature of social networks impacts the likelihood of arrest for these individuals. This study will explore the relationship between severe mental illness, substance abuse, and social network characteristics in predicting arrest. Three major variables of interest (size of social network, degree of contact with social network, substance abuse) and five demographic covariates were included in the present model. A binary logistic regression analysis was conducted, including substance abuse as a moderator of social network characteristics in predicting arrest, with a sample of 119 severely mentally ill persons. Results indicate that the overall model is significant (X2 = 51.9662, df=8, p<.0001). Individuals with a high degree of contact with their social network were 4.8 times more likely to have been arrested (OR=4.766, 95% CI=.1234, 18.410). Larger social networks decreased the likelihood of having been arrested by approximately 28% at borderline statistical significance (OR=.277, p=.06). Those with a substance abuse diagnosis were 23 times more likely to have been arrested (OR=23.230, 95% CI=5.948, 90.722) and mentally ill men were 11 times more likely to have been arrested (OR=10.931, 95% CI=3.019, 39.585). Based on findings, interventions aimed at increasing social networks may reduce contact with the criminal justice system for this population.

Learning Areas:
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Identify and explain the relationship between social networks, substance abuse, and contact with the criminal justice system for people with severe mental illness

Keywords: Correctional Health Care, Mental Illness

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conducted the analysis of this data.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.