Mental Health and Other Risk Factors for Jail Incarceration Among Male Veterans

Abstract

Data derived from the 2002 Survey of Inmates in Local Jails and the 2000 National Survey of Veterans show that having mental health problems in addition to such sociodemographic characteristics as being a member of a minority group, not being married, having less education, and being younger are risk factors for incarceration among veterans, as they are for the general population. As in previous studies veterans who served during the Vietnam Era and to an even greater extent, those who served in the early years of the All Volunteer Force were at greater risk of incarceration than veterans from the most recent period of the AVF, after controlling for age and other factors.

Risk of Recidivism Among Justice-Involved Veterans

“…Virtually all identified studies regarding family/marital circumstances were limited to tests of group differences in cross-sectional analyses. For example, relative to nonincarcerated veterans, incarcerated veterans were less likely to be married (Greenberg & Rosenheck, 2009) and were more dissatisfied in their marital relationships (Shaw et al, 1987). In addition, incarcerated veterans reported more problems and lack of support from family members (Benda, Rodell, & Rodell, 2003) and higher rates of spousal abuse perpetration (Gondolf & Foster, 1991).…”

“…A lower level of education and lack of employment increased the odds of committing crimes among veterans (Benda et al, 2003), and incarcerated veterans were found to have a shorter employment history compared with nonincarcerated veterans (Shaw et al, 1987). Incarcerated veterans were half as likely to have an education beyond high school or a General Education Diploma compared with nonincarcerated veterans, but incarcerated veterans reported higher rates of employment (Greenberg & Rosenheck, 2009). In addition, Rothbard et al (1999) failed to find a significant association between improvements in employment after treatment entry and number of posttreatment arrests among veterans.…”

Telemedicine: A Cost-Reducing Means of Delivering Psychotherapy to Rural Combat Veterans with PTSD

“…[8][9][10] Apart from the distress and reduced quality of life associated with this disorder, military Veterans with PTSD and their families are often confronted with job loss, 11 poor family functioning, 12 homelessness, 13 anger, violence, 14,15 and incarceration. 16 Approximately 11% of patients served by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system have been diagnosed with PTSD. 17 Despite this, estimates suggest that up to 40-50% of the Veterans who need and are eligible for mental health services in the United States do not access these services, and many of those who initiate mental healthcare drop out of treatment prematurely.…”

Infectious Diseases and the Criminal Justice System

“…Difficulties with housing are common, as inmates are 7–10 times more likely to be homeless than the general population. 14 Many individuals in jail and prison have low levels of education, with 40% having never completed high school or a GED, 15 and there is a significant overlap between neighborhood poverty and incarceration. Individuals entering prison were earning 41% less prior to incarceration than their non-incarcerated age-matched counterparts.…”