Adult Detainees Research Articles

Procedural Justice, Perceived Legitimacy, and Reoffending Behavior: In Police and Court Setting

Despite the increasing body of procedural justice research studying individuals involved in the criminal justice system, this strand of literature has used different approaches to measure procedural justice and legitimacy. The present study assesses the different theoretical assumptions of these approaches across two criminal justice settings, namely, policing and courts. In addition, we examine how procedural justice stemming from interactions with police officers and judges is related to legitimacy and reoffending behavior postrelease. Using data on adult detainees who entered Dutch pretrial detention centers, our findings support the theoretical assumptions regarding procedural justice and felt obligation to obey the law in both criminal justice settings. Furthermore, path analyses show that perceptions of procedural justice arising from encounters with police officers and judges are related to a higher sense of obligation to obey the law, which in turn is associated with a lower risk of reoffending.

Differential Effects of Procedural Justice? Examining Heterogeneity in the Perceptions and Effects of Procedural Justice Across First-Time and Recurrent Detainees

Several scholars have suggested that perceptions of procedural justice matter less for legitimacy beliefs and compliant behavior among serious offenders, but it remains unknown to what extent this also holds true for male detainees interacting with multiple criminal justice authorities. Using longitudinal data from the Prison Project on adult detainees entering Dutch pre-trial detention centers, the current study examines whether effects of procedural justice—arising from encounters with police officers, prison staff, and judges—on felt obligation to obey and recidivism operate in a different manner for first-time detainees and recurrent detainees. Our findings support the idea that procedural justice exerts differential effects on beneficial outcomes depending on detainees’ prior detention experience.

DETERMINANTS OF CRIME AMONG PERSONS SERVING A PENALTY IN PENITENTIARY ESTABLISHMENTS

The article aims to discuss crime-related issues in the light of social pathology, as well as crime-related phenomena and processes in the field of criminology, in terms of the types and categories of crimes. It defines social pathology and one of its forms, which is criminality, and its causes. This is also the context to present the process of resocialisation in the penitentiary establishment. To discuss the main topic, the Authors present the crime-related phenomena and processes in the field of criminology and social practice, the forms and causes of crime in the families of adult detainees, the prisons and their functioning and tasks, as well as the effects of resocialisation in the support system for detainees and their families.

Neuropsychological Assessment in The Forensic Context: A Scoping Review

The introduction of neuropsychologists in legal practice allowed for the field of forensic neuropsychology to arise. However, it is still a recent field of knowledge that is in continuous development. The existing literature highlights the incipience of studies in this area and the need for adaptation of instruments and methods. Thus, this scoping review aims to analyze how neuropsychological assessment has been employed so far in the forensic context. In order to do this, a search and a follow-up were conducted in the databases PsycInfo, Scopus and Web of Science. The query used for both searches was "(neuropsychological assessment OR neuropsychological test)" AND "forensic" OR "forensic neuropsychology". Initially, 1001 papers were identified, and after a two-stage screening process, 83 articles were included for analysis. Regarding neuropsychological assessment, the most investigated constructs were cognitive levels, memory and symptom validity. The heterogeneity of employed instruments we found in the studies evidenced the great existing variability in forensic neuropsychological practice. Among the most assessed populations were individuals with psychiatric, psychological or neurological diagnoses and male adult detainees in general. With this review, we expect to provide an overview on the current state of forensic neuropsychology, as well as information that may serve as a starting point for new research and further developments in the field.

Impact of social reintegration activities on the detainee's behavior according to age, length of detention and recidivism

Annotation: This article brings to the fore the importance of detainees ’participation in social reintegration programs for behavior change. It is also considered to determine a correlation between the personality traits of detainees and age, length of detention and recidivism. Thus, the statistical results obtained by the Anova test and the Pearson correlation test are consistent with other similar studies, which highlight the personality traits of adult detainees such as M. Bulten and S. Maruna, but also with studies that observed the types of coping at the level of detainees with different personality patterns made by J. L. Ireland and C. L. Power.

The amelioration of British West Indian slavery: anthropometric evidence

AbstractAn older view among historians, predominant until about 1970, held that British West Indian slave maintenance standards were significantly improved or ‘ameliorated’ from the later eighteenth century. Subsequent research has disputed this consensus, although uncertainty remains on key details of slave diet, labour, and demography. As an alternative welfare measure, this study examines the reported heights of detained runaway slaves and ex‐slaves held between 1788 and 1838 at workhouses on Jamaica, the most important British West Indian colony. Analytical challenges arise through the limited age data. Also, a disproportionate share of the detainees had an urban background. However, these problems can be overcome with help from local estate records and from eastern Caribbean anthropometric evidence. The mean stature of Jamaica‐born adult detainees clearly rose during the period, and they gained a widening height advantage relative to their Africa‐born counterparts. This offers a useful indicator of trends for the enslaved population at large. The workhouse material confirms ‘old school’ judgements that substantive amelioration occurred, as a course of deliberate slaveholder policy.

Addressing the challenges of chronic viral infections and addiction in prisons: the PRODEPIST study.

In 2010 only 30.9%, of the Puy-de-Dome prison detainees were screened for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV). Our goal was then to promote these assesments, as well as to identify addictive behaviour using FAGERSTROM, Cannabis Abuse Screening Test and CAGE tests, diagnose fibrosis by means of Fibrometer or Fibroscan in hepatic virus carriers and heavy drinkers, and perform HBV vaccinations. This prospective study of adult detainees in the prisons of Puy-de-Dome, France, took place from June 2012 to December 2013. Of the 702 incarcerated individuals, 396(56.4%) were screened and 357(50.9%) enrolled. HIV prevalence was 0.3%, HCV 4.7% and HBV 0.6%. While 234/294(79.6%) smokers and 115/145(79.3%) cannabis users were screened for dependence, excessive alcohol consumption was tested for in 91/179(50.8%) cases. Fibrosis was screened for in 75/80(93.7%) individuals selected with 16.0% presenting with moderate to severe fibrosis, 4/9(44.4%) HCV carriers and 8/65(12.3%) excessive alcohol consumers. HBV vaccination was given to 81/149(54.4%) individuals with no serological markers. A total of nine HIV tests were conducted at the 57 discharge consultations, involving 215 detainees being released, all of which were negative. The promotion of these evaluations proved beneficial, although viral screening could be achieved for only approaching half of the detainees, as could alcohol consumption assessment and HBV vaccination for those concerned. Fibrosis screening revealed lesions in HCV carriers yet also in heavy drinkers, who are typically less likely to be assessed. Consultations and HIV screening on release were found to be rarely possible.

The development of a mental health screening tool and referral pathway for police custody.

Time spent in police custody should present an opportunity for the early identification of mental ill health. However, this stage of the criminal justice system (CJS) is currently the least developed in terms of its links with health and social services. In England, police custody sergeants administer a standardized risk assessment tool to determine a detainee's need for health-care and/or risk reduction measures while detained. Specialized mental health services are often reliant on this process to generate referrals; however, previous research has shown this to be ineffective. The aim of this study was to develop an improved mental health screening tool and referral pathway to better identify individuals with mental ill health in police custody. Mental health professionals, police officers and service users across six sites throughout England took part in qualitative interviews, controlled feedback consultations and an action learning group. By combining a previously validated CJS mental health screening tool with elements of the custody risk assessment, the Police Mental Health Screening Questionnaire (PolQuest) was created. It is accompanied by a referral pathway that outlines services' responsibilities, expected actions and response times. The study resulted in a screening tool, referral pathway and training package. PolQuest is expected to facilitate the mental health screening of all adult detainees; improve the early identification of mental ill health; aid timely access to services; provide clear indicators for referral; and reduce ambiguity in the roles and responsibilities of staff across a range of criminal justice and health-care services.

Chronic Medical Conditions among Jail Detainees in Residential Psychiatric Treatment: A Latent Class Analysis

Studies of incarcerates with serious mental illnesses have found elevated rates of chronic medical conditions such as asthma and diabetes, and of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis compared with general population rates. This study explored the pattern of chronic medical conditions in a sample of adult detainees in psychiatric treatment in a large urban jail to develop a clinical profile encompassing the full range of medical conditions. A total of 431 male and female detainees were sampled with certainty from admissions to a residential psychiatric treatment program (overall recruitment rate = 67%). Interviews used the World Mental Health version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview to assess psychiatric and substance use disorders per DSM-IV criteria and chronic medical conditions. Latent class analysis was conducted using 17 medical conditions as class indicators, yielding a 3-class model composed of: a latent class with a high to intermediate probability of multiple medical conditions (HMC; 12.5% of the sample); an intermediate class with a lower probability of having a smaller number of medical conditions (MMC; 43.2%); and a class with a low probability of any medical condition (44.3%). Those in the HMC class were more likely to report respiratory problems, severe headaches, musculoskeletal pain, hypertension, and arthritis, have greater functional impairment, and have a higher number of co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Being older (50+ years) and female were associated with higher odds of being in the HMC or MMC classes. The policy implications for providing medical care to incarcerates with complex mixtures of medical conditions and psychiatric disorders are considered.

Recognizing Perspectives on Community Reentry From Offenders with Mental Illness: Using the Afrocentric Framework and Concept Mapping with Adult Detainees

By using concept-mapping techniques and incorporating the Afrocentric framework, this study demonstrated that people with mental illnesses, when asked and provided the means to participate, can engage in meaningful identification of their needs, service conceptualization, and prioritization. They provided 13 service area needs that included 104 indicators of their success when returning to the community. The identification of these indicators of success is helpful to program developers so that they can address the challenges of the consumer, and move offenders with mental illness toward independent living. Implications of the findings for social workers and public health professionals working in the corrections field are explored and discussed.

The psychiatric profession and the Australian government: the debate over collective depression syndrome among asylum-seeking detainees

Psychiatrists have long had involvement with the political process, both individually and as a profession. They have made valuable contributions to debate over such issues as war, conflict, terrorism, torture, human rights abuse, drug abuse, suicide and other public health issues. However, they have also been complicit in some gross atrocities. Over several years there has been debate over the Australian Government's treatment of asylum seekers, and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists took the unusual step of publicly criticizing the Australian Government's policy on grounds of its toxicity leading to a diagnosis of collective depression syndrome, particularly among child detainees, but also adult detainees. The official Ministerial response was to deny that collective depression exists and to assert that the concept is meaningless. Can this intervention by psychiatrists be interpreted as a product of earlier political behaviors by psychiatrists? The willingness of psychiatrists to cooperate with other professions, notably psychologists, pediatricians, physicians and lawyers, is noted, as is presence of minority voices within the Australian psychiatric profession. The significance of the debate over the mental condition of asylum-seeking detainees is that its outcome has implications for how Australia sees itself and is seen by the rest of the world, that is, its national identity.

Screening for bipolar disorder in a county jail at the time of criminal arrest

Objective This study assessed the operating characteristics of the mood disorder questionnaire (MDQ) among offenders arrested and detained at a county jail. Method The MDQ, a brief self-report instrument designed to screen for all subtypes of bipolar disorder (BP I, II and NOS) was voluntarily administered to adult detainees at the Ottawa County Jail in Port Clinton, Ohio. A confirmatory diagnostic evaluation was also performed using the mini-international neuropsychiatric interview (MINI). The MDQ was scored using a standard algorithm requiring endorsement of 7/13 mood items as well as two items that assess whether manic or hypomanic symptoms co-occur and cause moderate to severe functional impairment. In addition to the standard algorithm for scoring the MDQ, modifications were also tested in an attempt to improve overall sensitivity. Results Among 526 jail detainees who completed the MDQ, 37 (7%) screened positive for bipolar disorder. Of 164 detainees who agreed to a research diagnostic evaluation, 32 (19.5%) screened positive on the MDQ, while 55 (33.5%) met criteria for bipolar disorder according to the MINI. When administered to the sample of 164 adult jail detainees, the sensitivity of the MDQ was 0.47 and the specificity was 0.94. The MDQ was significantly better at detecting BP I (0.59) than BP II/NOS (0.19; p = 0.008). Modification of scoring the MDQ improved the sensitivity for detection of BP II from 0.23 to 0.54 with minimal decrease in specificity (0.84). The optimum sensitivity and specificity of the MDQ was achieved by decreasing the item threshold to 3/13 and eliminating the symptom co-occurrence and functional impairment items. Conclusion The MDQ was found to have limited utility as a screening tool for bipolar disorder in a correctional setting, particularly for the BP II subtype.

While adults battle, children suffer: Future problems for Iraq

While adults battle, children suffer: Future problems for Iraq

HIV and AIDS risk behaviors in juvenile detainees: implications for public health policy.

HIV and AIDS are increasingly diseases of minorities and the disadvantaged.1,2 These same groups are disproportinately involved in the justice system.3 Detained youths may be at particular risk. Sexually transmitted diseases, related to HIV and AIDS,4-6 are prevalent among detained youths. Moreover, although HIV seropositivity is infrequent among detained youths,4 studies of adult detainees suggest that detained youths are at great risk for developing HIV as they age.

Police interviewing and the use of appropriate adults

Abstract Observation of all detainees at seven police stations in London provided information about police interview procedures. About 3 in 10 detainees were interviewed; this relatively low proportion is accounted for by the fact that half the population of detainees had been arrested for non-notifiable offences. Nine out of 10 interviews were carried out by officers of constable rank and less than 1 per cent by those above the rank of sergeant. The average interview lasted for about 15 minutes. Appropriate adults were used in only 13 cases concerning adult detainees - less than one case per week of observation. In respect of appropriate adults, it is suggested that future codes of practice should distinguish between the needs and requirements of juveniles and adult detainees who may be mentally disordered and that the term ‘appropriate adult' be replaced with that of ‘independent third party’ in respect of mentally disordered detainees. The first duty presently laid on appropriate adults in the codes of...