Mental and physical health in prison: how co-occurring conditions influence inmate misconduct

Daniel C Semenza,Jessica M Grosholz

doi:10.1186/s40352-018-0082-5

Abstract

BackgroundResearch has shown that inmate misconduct is related to a range of demographic factors and experiences with the criminal justice system. Poor mental and physical health has also been associated with inmate misconduct, although no research has examined the relationship between co-occurring conditions and misconduct in prison populations.MethodsWe rely on data from the 2004 Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities (N = 14,499) and use negative binomial regression models to examine the relationship between types of co-occurring mental and physical conditions and misconduct.ResultsThe results demonstrate that people in prison dealing with concurrent mental and physical health problems are significantly more likely to engage in prison misconduct than healthy incarcerated individuals. After accounting for physical and co-occurring health conditions, mental conditions are not associated with serious misconduct.ConclusionsEnhancements in prison healthcare may not only improve the general health of those in prison, but also contribute to a decrease in misconduct. Research that examines the relationship between mental health and deviant behavior in and out of prison should consider the multifaceted elements of a person’s health, including acute and chronic physical ailments.

Highlights

Research has shown that inmate misconduct is related to a range of demographic factors and experiences with the criminal justice system
Due to the deinstitutionalization of mental health hospitals across the United States (U.S.) over the last fifty years, the U.S prison system has witnessed an increase in the number of those in prison with mental disorders with research suggesting that there are 10 times more individuals with a mental disorder in prison or jail than housed in mental hospitals (Haney, 2017; Torrey et al, 2014)
Using Agnew’s General Strain Theory (GST) as an overarching theoretical framework, we argue that experiencing co-occurring forms of mental and physical conditions in prison creates significant accumulated strain, potentially leading to misconduct

Summary

Introduction

Research has shown that inmate misconduct is related to a range of demographic factors and experiences with the criminal justice system. General strain theory and health According to General Strain Theory (GST), individuals experience three major types of strain: the failure to achieve positively valued goals, the removal of positively valued stimuli, and the presence of negative stimuli (Agnew, 1992). These stressors lead to negative emotions like anger, depression, and frustration (Agnew, 1992). Health problems are inherently noxious stimuli that may create significant strain in a person’s life by causing the person discomfort, pain, or anguish

Results

Discussion

Conclusion