The Effect of Physical Health on Inmate Misconduct

• In Event: Health and Well-being in Corrections

Abstract

Mass incarceration, prison overcrowding, and inmate misconduct have long been major topics of interest for criminologists and the general public. A significant amount of research shows that inmate misconduct, or deviations from the formal rules of the prison, is caused by various factors such as, but not limited to, age, self-control, drug use, prior criminal justice involvement, gang membership, sentence length, and prison program involvement. While mental health has also been shown to have a significant effect on inmate misconduct, no research has examined the influence of physical health on prison rule-breaking. Following a General Strain theoretical framework and using data from the Bureau of Justice Statistic’s 2004 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities, this study argues that poor physical health in prison represents a significant strain for inmates, which should increase the likelihood of misconduct. Results from this study build on prior inmate misconduct research and have significant implications for correctional healthcare.

Authors

• Jessica M. Grosholz, University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee

• Daniel Semenza, Emory University