Assessing the Link Between Exposure to a Violent Prison Context and Inmate Maladjustment

Abstract

The importance of prison safety has generated a number of studies of the correlates to inmate maladjustment, and researchers have found that both individual and environmental characteristics impact the level of maladjustment across prisons. However, no studies have examined the impact of exposure to a violent prison context on maladjustment. We hypothesize that exposure to a violent prison context directly increases maladjustment among the inmate population. We also expect that exposure to a violent prison context moderates the relationships between individual-level risk and protective factors and maladjustment. Analyses of data collected from a national sample of inmates confined in state prisons revealed that exposure to violent prison contexts is associated with higher rates of inmate maladjustment. We also found that exposure to a violent prison context moderates the relationships between individual-level risk and protective factors and some indicators of maladjustment

The Effect of Mental Illness on Segregation Following Institutional Misconduct

“…Adams (1986) determined that offenders who were referred to mental health units were more likely to be charged with a disciplinary violation, which is often characteristic of a mental illness (i.e., self-injurious behavior). More recent research has found that seriously mentally ill inmates have higher rates of both violent and nonviolent misconducts (Felson, Silver, & Remster, 2012; Matejkowski, 2017; Steiner & Meade, 2016). In studies utilizing the 2004 SISFCF, those with preincarceration mental illnesses committed more assaults and substance violations (Steiner & Meade, 2016), whereas inmates with the specific diagnoses of depression and psychosis were more likely to engage in violence against inmates as well as nonviolent misconducts (Felson et al, 2012).…”

“…More recent research has found that seriously mentally ill inmates have higher rates of both violent and nonviolent misconducts (Felson, Silver, & Remster, 2012; Matejkowski, 2017; Steiner & Meade, 2016). In studies utilizing the 2004 SISFCF, those with preincarceration mental illnesses committed more assaults and substance violations (Steiner & Meade, 2016), whereas inmates with the specific diagnoses of depression and psychosis were more likely to engage in violence against inmates as well as nonviolent misconducts (Felson et al, 2012). When restricting the sample to only female inmates, Houser and colleagues (2012) found that those with a mental illness had higher odds of committing a serious infraction compared with those without (170% higher compared with no infraction, and 8% higher compared with a minor infraction).…”

“…Empirical evidence also shows that institutional context is an important factor in inmate misconduct (Camp, Gaes, Langan, & Saylor, 2003; Huebner, 2003; Steiner et al, 2014; Steiner & Meade, 2016; Steiner & Wooldredge, 2013, 2014). In their 2014 review of the literature, Steiner et al (2014) found that a security level of maximum was the most reliable prison-level predictor of misconduct, with 78% of the models included showing a positive relationship and only 11% reporting an insignificant relationship between the covariates.…”

“…Camp et al (2003) also found that the average security level of inmates housed in institutions was significantly related to violent and drug misconduct; however, the authors note the problematic definitions of security levels in prisons (i.e., medium security may mix high- and low security–level inmates). Furthermore, the variations between state and federal institutional environments, such as differences in operations, inmate populations, or culture, may influence levels of misconduct (Butler & Steiner, 2017; Steiner et al, 2014; Steiner & Meade, 2016).…”

Effects of Dog-Based Animal-Assisted Interventions in Prison Population: A Systematic Review

“…Due to the large number of people in prisons, which is more than 10 million individuals worldwide, and the large proportion of physical and mental health issues compared to the general population, there is a need to develop programs that help to reduce inmate prison infraction rates or violence and increase physical and mental health [ 9 ]. These intervention programs, which should be focused in psychosocial well-being, can be an effective way to maintain both staff and inmates’ safety within correctional facilities, while also reducing the likelihood of recidivism [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. In this regard, animal-assisted interventions (AAI) are a promising strategy for these purposes, which is used in different countries [ 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”