Abstract
BackgroundThe purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to determine whether TBI or PTSD is associated with an increase in general or violent criminal recidivism among a representative sample of released prisoners.In-person interviews were conducted with a stratified random sample of individuals incarcerated with the South Carolina Department of Corrections approximately 90 days prior to the prisoners’ releases. In addition to a variety of items and scales, respondents were screened for TBI and were asked whether they had received a current diagnosis of PTSD. Data were merged with arrest data that provided measures of past criminal involvement and indicators of post-release recidivism (arrest). Arrests were coded as “general” for any arrest charge and “violent” for any violent offense charge.ResultsSurvival analyses indicate that neither TBI nor PTSD predicts time to general recidivism. PTSD (p < 0.01) and age at first arrest (p < 0.01) are significant predictors for violent recidivism and TBI is non-significant at p = 0.09. Results from the negative binomial models indicate that TBI (p < 0.05) and PTSD (p < 0.05) are significantly associated with more post-release violent arrests, but not general arrests.ConclusionsTBI and PTSD were found to predict violent offending but not general criminal behavior. These findings demonstrate the need for prison officials to identify individuals with a history of TBI and PTSD and to develop appropriate interventions that could be provided during incarceration to reduce the post-release likelihood of violence.
Highlights
In recent years, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been the subject of increasing scholarly attention, in part because of concerns about potential significant impacts on public health
After a review of the literature, we identified several studies examining the relationship between PTSD, recidivism, and violence among criminal justice populations
This study examined the relationships of TBI and PTSD with two different types of criminal recidivism measured by arrest following release from prison for any offenses and violent offenses
Summary
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been the subject of increasing scholarly attention, in part because of concerns about potential significant impacts on public health. (2022) 10:7 is much higher than in the general population, with estimates ranging anywhere from 25% to 87% compared to approximately 8% in the general population (Barnfield, & Leathem, 1998; DelBello, et al, 1999; Langevin, 2006; Ray, & Sapp, 2014; Shiroma et al, 2012) These findings have resulted in additional research investigating how those with TBI differ from those without in their experiences with the criminal justice system. Using a sample of male prisoners in the United Kingdom, Williams and colleagues (Williams, Mewse, et al, 2010) found that those with TBI were more likely to be incarcerated at a younger age. Arrests were coded as “general” for any arrest charge and “violent” for any violent offense charge
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