Pre- and post-sentence mental health service use by a population cohort of older offenders (≥45 years) in Western Australia

Sodhi-Berry, Nita; Knuiman, Matthew; Alan, Janine; Morgan, Vera; Preen, David B.

doi:10.1007/s00127-015-1008-3

Cited by 11 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 48 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The fact that we did not seem to find a health effect of detention is contrary to the findings from existing longitudinal survey-based studies, which did suggest detrimental health effects [ 13 , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] ]. These studies showed that incarceration was associated with mental health problems (e.g.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Nevertheless, also after taking these socioeconomic differences into account, we observed pre-detention health differences between detainees and controls for a number of health problems, such as psychological, alcohol-related, and drugs-related health issues. The fact that detainees were in relatively poor health prior to their detention, and as such imported their poor health into detention, is in line with findings from some existing (review) studies, and illustrate the important opportunity of correctional facilities to address unmet health care needs [ 6 , 17 , 34 , 35 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

“…Furthermore, relatively few studies examined the health of female prisoners. To the best of our knowledge, only a dozen studies had a research design that countered these limitations [ 13 , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] ]. These studies, however, were all done in the United States or Australia, and only one used administrative health data instead of survey data, the latter being hampered by recall and social desirability biases.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Mental and physical health problems before and after detention: A matched cohort study

Dirkzwager

Verheij

Nieuwbeerta

et al. 2021

The Lancet Regional Health - Europe

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Individuals with poor health are largely overrepresented in prison populations. However, it remains unclear whether their poor health status already exists prior to their detention or reflects an effect of detention. We examined the health of detainees in the year before and after their detention and compared this with the health of matched non-detainees. Methods In this matched cohort study, we linked national data on all persons detained in the Netherlands in 2014/2015 to electronic health records (EHR's) of a representative sample of general practitioners in the Netherlands. Participants include 952 detained persons and 4760 matched non-detained persons (matched on age, sex and general practice). Prevalence rates of health problems in the year before and after detention and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Rates for a variety of physical and mental health problems are presented. Findings Detainees and matched controls differed statistically significant in their pre-detention health status. Compared with controls, male detainees were more likely to report psychological (odds ratio [OR] 3·64 [95% CI 3·11–4·26]), social (1·96 [1·46–2·64]), neurological (1·34 [1·02–1·76]), digestive (1·23 [1·02–1·49]), genital system-related (1·36 [1·07–1·72]), and unspecified health problems (1·32 [1·10–1·59]) in the year before their detention. For example, 43·7% of detainees and 17·6% of controls reported psychological problems in this pre-detention year. To some extent these pre-detention health differences were related to socioeconomic differences. Nevertheless, after taking these characteristics into account, a number of pre-detention health differences between detainees and controls remained statistically significant. No statistically significant changes in prevalence rates from pre- to post-detention and no differences in the levels of change across detainees and controls were observed. For female detainees a similar pattern was found. Interpretation People who experience detention have high and complex health needs both pre- and post-detention. While this study did not show a health deteriorating effect of detention, it also did not show a health improving effect. This latter finding may indicate a missed opportunity for health care services to address detainees’ health, especially since persons entering detention have elevated health problems. Knowledge on detainees’ specific health problems may help health care providers in prisons and in the community to adequately address the health care needs of this vulnerable group. Funding None.

show abstract

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Mental and physical health problems before and after detention: A matched cohort study

Dirkzwager

Verheij

Nieuwbeerta

et al. 2021

The Lancet Regional Health - Europe

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In Canada, Shantz and Frigon () described the community reintegration experiences of older women after long periods in prison and found that they experienced many difficulties linked with their age, health, and gender. Working in Australia, discontinuity in mental health contact was identified in over half of a cohort of 1853 first time offenders over the age of 45 who had previously been in contact with mental health services in the year prior to imprisonment (Sodhi‐Berry, Knuiman, Alan, Morgan, & Preen, ). There have been several studies of transitional support models that benefit offender groups with mental health needs such as the critical time intervention (Shaw et al, ), and extending the use of such models to meet the complex needs of older prisoners on diversion or release would be of interest.…”

Section: Psycho‐social Aspects Of Imprisonmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mental health and offending in older people: Future directions for research

Parrott

Houben

Visser

et al. 2019

Criminal Behav Ment Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: The number of older people and their proportion of the prison population in high-income countries is increasing substantially. This pattern is mirrored by the age profile in forensic hospital services, and both trends seem counter to the age-crime curve concept. How do we understand this and what are the mental health needs of this growing group? Aim: The aim of this review is to identify existing research robust enough to inform policy and practice in relation to mental health in older offenders and the knowledge gaps that should drive future research. Methods: A keyword-based search strategy of the databases Embase, PsychINFO, Medline, and grey literature 2008-2018. Article selection was limited to empirical research with the potential to inform policy or practice and findings synthesised narratively. Results: Much of the research in this field focuses on prevalence and the increased psychiatric morbidity of the older offender population. Older prisoners and those older

show abstract

“…A study conducted in the U.K. found older incarcerated men experienced substantial stressors related to losses resulting from their incarceration, the threat of violence from younger prisoners, and a fear of dying in prison (Crawley, 2005; Crawley and Sparks, 2006). Finally, a study of this group in Australia found they were six times more likely than their peers to have utilized mental health services prior to their sentences, but that many discontinued treatment after release (Sodhi-Berry et al, 2015). …”

Section: Prison Boomers Compound Problems In Prisonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Older and incarcerated: policy implications of aging prison populations

Psick

Simon

Brown

et al. 2017

IJPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Prison populations worldwide are aging at an unprecedented rate, and associated age-related medical costs have had serious consequences for jurisdictions struggling to respond to the changes. Our examination of the situation in California shows that recognizing the changing healthcare needs of aging prison populations is critical to achieving effective and efficient policies and practices that affect this medically vulnerable and costly population. Chronic prison overcrowding usually accompanies the aging trends, and there is evidence that aging is strongly correlated with desistance from criminal behavior, suggesting an opportunity to at least partially address the challenges through early release of appropriate persons. Some relevant policies do exist, but they have not achieved this goal on a sufficient scale. Drawing lessons from California and available scholarship, we conclude with recommendations for those faced with responding to the unprecedented number of older adults now in prison, most of whom will eventually be released.

show abstract

Pre- and post-sentence mental health service use by a population cohort of older offenders (≥45 years) in Western Australia

Abstract: Better detection and treatment of mental disorders in older offenders to ensure continuity of care at all transition points through age-sensitive correctional and community-based MHSs is needed.

Cited by 11 publications

References 48 publications

Mental and physical health problems before and after detention: A matched cohort study

Mental and physical health problems before and after detention: A matched cohort study

Mental health and offending in older people: Future directions for research

Older and incarcerated: policy implications of aging prison populations

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About