Mental Health Among the Incarcerated: An Exploration in Rural Jails

• In Event: Mental Health and Trauma in a Correctional Context

Abstract

The pervasiveness of mental health ailments amongst the incarcerated has caught the attention of academics and policy makers alike, yet research has been inconsistent in finding a correlation between mental health status as reported at intake and criminal behavior. While more accurate information on mental health status may be available a few days post-arrest, the situation creates a potential quandary for jailers who need to identify inmates with greater mental health risk sooner than later. Present study set in the context of two rural jails located in southern United States investigates the relationship between reported mental health condition and recidivism and/or disciplinary write ups. Our data comprises in-depth interviews (87 interviews) and survey of 950 inmates. We investigate whether there is a combination of variables that would result in the expected relationship between reported mental health condition and recidivism and/or disciplinary write ups. Preliminary results indicate that while mental health is associated with recidivism and number of disciplinary reports, reliable assessment of inmates’ mental health is complex. Hence more effective policy interventions call for coordination between criminal justice system and mental health services.

Authors

• Veena S. Kulkarni, Arkansas State University

• Angelo Brown, Arkansas State University