Individuals In Jails Research Articles

Impact of a digital relationship intervention for jailed individuals.

Not surprisingly, incarceration's extreme separation and stress have significant negative effects on romantic relationships. Unfortunately, few programs have been developed to improve jailed individuals' romantic relationship with their non-incarcerated partner. The present study investigated the effectiveness of the individual version of the digital OurRelationship program for incarcerated individuals. The current study is a program evaluation of services provided by PayTel Inc. (a provider of eLearning and communication devices in US jails) between June 2020 and November 2021. Of the 5411 individuals in a romantic relationship who started the program, 3034 completed it. Following completion of the program, 78% reported feeling "Mostly" or "Very Satisfied" with the program, and 77% reported "Slight" to "Strong" agreement that their relationship benefited from the program. Individuals' relationship confidence (d = 0.36) and relationship knowledge (d = 0.33) significantly improved during the program. Women and Latino/Hispanic and Asian/PI individuals experienced the largest pre-post gains in relationship functioning. Furthermore, racial/ethnic minority groups tended to report higher satisfaction with the program. Overall, the high rates of program satisfaction and significant pre-post changes-combined with their reduced barriers to dissemination-support the delivery of digital relationship programs for jailed individuals interested in strengthening their relationship.

Transitions of care between jail-based medications for opioid use disorder and ongoing treatment in the community: A retrospective cohort study

BackgroundOffering medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in carceral settings significantly reduces overdose. However, it is unknown to what extent individuals in jails continue MOUD once they leave incarceration. We aimed to assess the relationship between in-jail MOUD and MOUD continuity in the month following release. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of linked NYC jail-based electronic health records and community Medicaid OUD treatment claims for individuals with OUD discharged from jail between 2011 and 2017. We compared receipt of MOUD within 30 days of release, among those with and without MOUD at release from jail. We tested for effect modification based on MOUD receipt prior to incarceration and assessed factors associated with treatment discontinuation. ResultsOf 28,298 eligible incarcerations, 52.8 % received MOUD at release. 30 % of incarcerations with MOUD at release received community-based MOUD within 30 days, compared to 7 % of incarcerations without MOUD (Risk Ratio: 2.62 (2.44–2.82)). Most (69 %) with MOUD claims prior to incarceration who received in-jail MOUD continued treatment in the community, compared to 9 % of those without prior MOUD. Those who received methadone (vs. buprenorphine), were younger, Non-Hispanic Black and with no history of MOUD were less likely to continue MOUD following release. ConclusionsMOUD maintenance in jail is strongly associated with MOUD continuity upon release. Still, findings highlight a gap in treatment continuity upon-reentry, especially among those who initiate MOUD in jail. In the wake of worsening overdose deaths and troubling disparities, improving MOUD continuity among this population remains an urgent priority.

What Are the Psychotherapy Needs of Incarcerated Individuals?

What Are the Psychotherapy Needs of Incarcerated Individuals?

The Dangers of Short-Term Confinement: Indicators of Safety Risks Among Individuals in Jail.

Guided by the premise that an individual's safety may be more at risk when their routines, personal attributes, or lack of guardianship influence their opportunity for exposure to violence, we examined the factors that influenced victimization risks and safety perceptions among a representative sample of respondents incarcerated at a large Midwestern jail. Results showed that vulnerable individuals such as those who were victimized prior to their incarceration, and those who antagonized others such as those who perpetrated assault, were threatened more often, were more at risk of assault victimization, and perceived more dangerous conditions. Conversely, females and individuals with greater self-control were less likely to have experienced victimization and generally felt safer in jail. Our results illustrate the importance of identifying and protecting individuals who might experience greater safety risks during jail incarceration and should be interpreted alongside research and policy aimed at improving safety and welfare within correctional institutions.

Developing a cascade of care for opioid use disorder among individuals in jail

IntroductionThe overdose epidemic persists as a public health crisis in the United States. Jails are a critical overdose prevention touchpoint. The risk of overdose postincarceration may be increased if an individual is released without medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment or transferred to long-term residential treatment. A growing number of studies have examined the difficulties in implementing evidence-based care for opioid use disorder (OUD) in jail settings. MethodsWe use administrative data (July 1, 2020, through September 30, 2020) from four jail facilities that implemented OUD treatment programs. These data included screening data from the Rapid Opioid Dependence Screener (RODS) (n = 2562), along with booking and medication information from jail records, which we used to develop a cascade-of-care. ResultsScreening rates varied dramatically by facility, with integration into the jail records management system showing the best outcomes. The prevalence of OUD identified from the RODS was 8.1% and did not vary significantly by facility. Nearly one third (31.3%) of those identified as having an OUD were dispensed medications, with two-thirds receiving methadone and the remaining third buprenorphine. The average length of stay for all screened individuals was two weeks, compared to two months for those who received an MOUD. ConclusionsScreening for OUD diagnosis is critical to reduce gaps in a cascade-of-care, and our results provide guidance on how to achieve this in jail. Failing to identify OUD and provide MOUD places an individual at an increased risk for fatal overdose. Future studies should consider examining MOUD discharge planning and factors that improve treatment retention following release from incarceration. Our study also illustrates the churn of jail populations and the need for rapid induction of treatment and overdose prevention strategies upon release.

Challenging Normal Science: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Jailed Individuals Self-Report of Lifetime and in-Jail Suicidal Ideations

Suicidal behaviors are of critical public health concern. These behaviors are even more pervasive in the justice system, in particular in the correctional sector. Yet, the field of criminology has historically shown limited interest in furthering the scientific inquiry behind these behaviors. Interdisciplinary work has routinely been used as a buzz word in academia. This study argues that the intersection of criminology, psychology, and sociology are a beginning step to challenge normal science and progress into a new paradigm of scholarship, in relation to suicidology. The current study details the importance of knowledge building, exchange of theories, measurement, variables, and collaboration. Using real data to illustrate how this approach could work, a test of lifetime suicidal ideations and in-jail suicidal ideation is conducted to demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of suicide within justice involved populations.

Incarcerated During a Pandemic: Implications of COVID-19 for Jailed Individuals and Their Families

ABSTRACT U.S. jails are typically over-crowded settings and have faced notable social distancing challenges and a lack of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, institutions made swift policy changes that included canceling in-person visits, suspending programming, and releasing a proportion of people with low-level charges. That said, a still-significant number of individuals remained incarcerated for whom the consequences of such abrupt procedural changes amidst an ongoing pandemic remain largely unknown. To begin to examine this, 33 adults in a mid-sized, county jail were surveyed to assess their experiences. Participants were majority Black men, half of whom were parents, and all had been tested for COVID-19. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected yielding results, which indicated that COVID-19 significantly disrupted daily jail activities, adversely influenced health, and strained family relationships. Use of segregation, delayed court proceedings, inadequate health responses, and suspended programming and visits with limited contact alternatives reportedly intersected with depleted mental health to contribute to feelings of isolation and heightened concern for the well-being of family. Policy and practice implications are discussed that would help incarcerated people receive necessary support and maintain family connections while mitigating health concerns that emerge during public health crises.

Gender, Geography, and Justice: Behavioral Health Needs and Mental Health Service Use Among Women in Rural Jails

This multi-jail study examines the behavioral health needs and service use in a sample of 3,787 individuals in jail, to compare women in rural jails to their gender and geography counterparts (that is rural men, urban women, and urban men). Compared to urban women (17.9%, n = 677), rural men (18.2%, n = 690), and urban men (56.1%; n = 2,132), rural women (7.6%, n = 288) had significantly higher odds of serious mental illness and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Rural woman were nearly 30 times more likely to receive jail-based mental health services; however, a discrepancy between screened mental health need (43.1%, n = 124) and jail-identified mental health need (8.4%, n = 24) shows rural women are severely under-identified compared to their gender/geography counterparts. These findings have implications for the changing nature of jail populations and suggests the need to improve behavioral health identification methods.

The Health and Development of Young Children Who Witnessed Their Parent's Arrest Prior to Parental Jail Incarceration.

Most U.S. incarceration occurs in jails, with more than 10 million annual admissions, and most individuals in jail are parents of minor children. In this short-term longitudinal study, we examined the health and development of young children who did or did not witness their parent’s arrest prior to parental jail incarceration. 228 individuals in 76 triads (incarcerated parents, children, at-home caregivers) were enrolled from four jails in two states. Jailed parents and caregivers reported on whether the child witnessed the parent’s arrest or crime. Children’s caregivers completed questionnaires about children’s emotional symptoms during the prior 6 months and demographics, as well as children’s emotional reactions to separation from the parent and child health at the initial assessment and 2 weeks later. Trained researchers conducted a developmental assessment with children while waiting to visit parents. Results of regression-based moderated mediation analyses indicated that when their emotional symptoms were high, children who witnessed parental arrest were more likely to have poorer health initially and more intense negative reactions to the parent leaving for jail. In addition, when children’s general emotional symptoms were low, children who witnessed their parent’s arrest were more likely to exhibit developmental delays, especially in their early academic skills, compared to children who did not witness the arrest. Witnessing the parent’s crime related to missed milestones in social and adaptive development. Findings have implications for policies regarding safeguarding children during parental arrest and referrals for health- and development-promotion services following parental criminal justice system involvement.

Peer navigation for individuals with serious mental illness leaving jail: a pilot randomized trial study protocol

BackgroundSerious mental illness (SMI) is a prevalent public health problem affecting 25% of individuals in jail. Re-entry to the community following incarceration is a vulnerable time for justice-involved individuals with SMI. SMI requires prompt and ongoing access to mental health and other healthcare services.MethodsThe study will (1) develop a Mentoring And Peer Support (MAPS) intervention for post-release mental health and other service connection among jailed individuals with SMI and (2) pilot test the MAPS intervention to determine its feasibility and acceptability. The primary outcomes will be to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the proposed recruitment methods and research design, of the intervention training methods, and of delivering the enhanced peer-navigator and control interventions. Study samples include focus groups (n=36), open trial (n=15), and a randomized pilot trial in a sample of 40 individuals with SMI re-entering the community after jail release. Secondary outcomes will include post-release enrollment in mental health, medical care, and substance use services. We will also evaluate reduction in psychiatric symptoms, improvements in functioning, adherence to psychiatric medications, fewer substance using days, fewer hospitalizations and suicide attempts, nights unstably housed, and time until rearrest.DiscussionThis pilot study will evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a peer navigation intervention for individuals with serious mental illness leaving jails. The study will serve as a formative work for a larger randomized controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of peer navigator intervention for (include the primary outcome) in this population.

In the states

The Coalition of Medication‐Assisted Treatment Providers and Advocates of New York State (COMPA) issued support and further encouragement to New York legislators last week for the passage of a package of bills to combat the opioid addiction epidemic by increasing access to medication‐assisted treatment (MAT). “We applaud the Senate and Assembly passing A2904 Quart/S4808 Harckham, which eliminates prior authorizations for all MAT medications for commercial insurance policies,” said Allegra Schorr, president of COMPA. “This will increase access to treatment and reduce barriers for delivering care.” She added, “We urge the passage of A7246 Rosenthal/S5935 Harckham, which provides critical access to all medications to vulnerable Medicaid populations during this opioid crisis. Moreover, in order to ensure that all New Yorkers can access care, we urge the state to implement the policy outlined in A833 Rosenthal/S2161 Bailey that would establish a patient‐centered MAT program for incarcerated individuals in jails and prisons, and COMPA supports A972A Rosenthal/S4643A Harckham, which would prohibit copays during the course of treatment at an opioid treatment program.” COMPA is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to treating addiction through the use of pharmacotherapy as a part of a comprehensive biopsychosocial approach to treatment. COMPA's program members include both opioid treatment programs and office‐based opioid treatment providers. COMPA is the New York state member program of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence.

3209 Hepatitis C Virus Linked To Increased Mortality in Inmates Who Are Hospitalized

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has a high prevalence among individuals in jail and prisons. Access to HCV treatment has been restricted in jails and prisons. We hypothesized that HCV infection in inmates would be associated with increased mortality in people who were hospitalized while incarcerated. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We created and then linked a database of people who were incarcerated and admitted at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital (2004, 2008, 2011) to the Massachusetts Vital Statistic Registry (updated through end of 2015). Death was classified using the Automatic Classification of Medical Entry Death Code. The primary outcome of interest was mortality within 1 year of hospitalization, and the secondary outcome was mortality at any time. The primary indicator of interest was HCV, defined as the presence of the ICD-9 code for HCV on discharge. Covariates included in univariate and multivariate modeling included age, year of admission, and race/ethnicity classified as: White, Black, Hispanic or Other (i.e., Asian, Native American, Multi-Racial, or No answer). RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Of the 1,541 hospital admissions, 21% had HCV, and 57% were white, 22% black, 8% Hispanic and 12% other. Of the 273 total deaths (18% of cohort), 82 deaths occurred within 1 year of hospitalization (5.3% of the entire cohort, 30% of all deaths). The primary cause of death was vascular (21%), followed by chronic liver disease (18%), cancer (17%), overdose/suicide/trauma (19%), pulmonary (7%) and infection (6%). People with HCV were more likely to die of chronic liver disease (40% vs 7%, p<0.001). In the multivariable adjusted model, people with HCV were more likely to die within 1 year of hospitalization (HR 1.59, 95% CI 1.02, 2.49) and more likely to die at any time (HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.06, 1.79). Age, race and gender were not associated with risk of death. Compared to 2004, people admitted in 2008 (HR 2.05, 95% CI, 1.50-2.80) and 2011 (HR 4.02, 95% CI 2.77, 5.83) were more likely to die within 1 year. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Despite advances in HCV treatment in the community, HCV in inmates is associated with increased mortality.

Jail Incarceration: A Common and Consequential Form of Criminal Justice Contact

Although jails are both common and consequential, affecting millions of individuals annually, they are a relatively understudied aspect of the criminal justice system. In this review, we first document the prevalence of jail incarceration, highlighting how jail incarceration has risen in tandem with the more commonly examined prison incarceration. Next, we describe the population of individuals in jail, paying particular attention to the heterogeneous and disadvantaged nature of this population. We document how jail incarceration is measured, demographically and in household surveys, and argue that jail incarceration has lasting and profound consequences for individuals, families, and communities. We conclude the review by suggesting directions for future research. Given the common nature of jail incarceration—in conjunction with the fact that jail incarceration creates, sustains, and perpetuates inequality—a better understanding of the prevalence, correlates, and consequences of jail incarceration is critical for fully understanding the link between the criminal justice system and inequality.

From ED overcrowding to jail overcrowding: a cautionary tale of a Serial Inebriate Programme (SIP)

IntroductionCommunity-based programmes have been implemented to curtail ED use by individuals with chronic public intoxication. Among these programmes is the Serial Inebriate Programme (SIP), which aims to reduce use of...

A Rights-Based Approach to Social Work in Jails

Safeguarding rights is a critical duty for social workers in jail settings where human rights violations are prevalent and can be divided into two general categories: (1) when holding someone in jail violates their human rights and (2) when the treatment provided within the jail violates human rights. This paper will address these areas of concern, and then focus on how rights-based approaches to social work are currently practiced and can be expanded by collaborative public defense teams including those that work with clients who could be sentenced to death. A call for research on rights-based practice methods and complementary therapeutic approaches will include the presentation of testimony therapy as a potential clinical method that may be effective with (and for) this population. Social workers are ethically bound to attend to jailed individuals in ways that respect their dignity and build on their strengths. Employing these strategies, social workers can strengthen individuals, as well as our human societies.

“Being able to speak”: What individuals in jail perceived as helpful about participating in alcohol-related brief interventions

ABSTRACTBackground: A significant proportion of individuals within the criminal justice system meet criteria for a substance use disorder. Treatments for individuals who are incarcerated with substance use disorders show minimal to no benefit on postrelease outcomes, suggesting a need to improve their effectiveness, particularly those that can be delivered in a brief format. The purpose of this study was to describe what individuals in jail with substance use disorders perceived as being helpful about 2 brief alcohol-focused interventions, which can be used to inform future treatments with this population. Methods: Data came from a parent study where 58 individuals in jail with substance use disorders received either a motivational or educational intervention focused on alcohol and other substance use and then completed a questionnaire assessing what was most and least helpful about the interventions. Qualitative responses were coded using a grounded theory approach. Results: Results indicated that participants from both interventions reported that receiving individualized attention and talking one-on-one with someone was helpful, and that the interventions were encouraging and elicited hope. There also were specific components from each intervention that participants said were beneficial, including the opportunity to discuss plans for postrelease and to learn about addiction from psychoeducational videos. Participants noted areas for improving future interventions. Suggestions from participants were to offer tangible resources upon release, make session lengths flexible, and reduce assessment burden during research interviews. Conclusions: Findings align with established approaches for working with marginalized groups, namely, community-based participatory research methods and shared decision-making models for treatment. This study provided a voice to individuals in jail with substance use disorders, a group often underrepresented in the literature, and may offer an initial look at how to improve treatments for this high-risk population.

Go Directly to Jail, Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200: Improving Wisconsin's Pretrial Release Statute

Over the years, the population within Wisconsin’s jails has significantly increased. This population is not just those serving sentences, but rather the majority of individuals in jails are in pretrial detention, awaiting their trial. Pretrial detention has significant consequences for both the individual and the community. However, judges receive very little guidance about what factors to consider when determining whether or not to release an individual or to impose restrictions on that release. Because of this, many individuals are being unnecessarily detained before trial. Wisconsin’s current pretrial release statute is cumbersome and confusing. It requires a judge to consider a multitude of factors without providing any guidance about how to consider those factors. Pretrial risk assessments are tools that help judges make better decisions about who can safely be released before trial. A pretrial risk assessment considers the important factors for safe release and weighs them according to how greatly they predict a successful release. By updating Wisconsin’s pretrial release statute and requiring a pretrial risk assessment to be performed, Wisconsin can safely increase the number of individuals released before trial, increase the support to judges when making release decisions, decrease the jail population and save millions of dollars.

Mentally Ill Individuals in Jails and Prisons

AbstractBoth targeted programs and wholesale changes are sorely needed in how individuals with mental illness are processed in the criminal justice system. Mental illness is not as directly related to criminal involvement or violence as is often assumed. Mentally ill individuals are nonetheless disproportionately present in jails and prisons. Efforts to reduce their numbers must take account of the heterogeneity of mental conditions and their changing nature. Understanding of the complex ways in which mental illness and involvement in crime and violence are related is a precondition for formulating realistic policies. The disproportionate presence of mentally ill individuals in jails and prisons will not be substantially ameliorated by new programs alone; these have limited reach and effect. Doing better in five respects is key: expand the reach of standard and innovative mental health services, divert mentally ill individuals early in the criminal justice process, enrich training of criminal justice pers...

The SOMATICS collaborative: Introduction to a National Institute on Drug Abuse cooperative study of pharmacotherapy for opioid treatment in criminal justice settings

BackgroundAmong the nearly 750,000 inmates in U.S. jails, 12% report using opioids regularly, 8% report use in the month prior to their offense, and 4% report use at the time of their offense. Although ample evidence exists that medications effectively treat Opiate Use Disorder (OUD) in the community, strong evidence is lacking in jail settings. The general lack of medications for OUD in jail settings may place persons suffering from OUD at high risk for relapse to drug use and overdose following release from jail. MethodsThe three study sites in this collaborative are pooling data for secondary analyses from three open-label randomized effectiveness trials comparing: (1) the initiation of extended-release naltrexone [XR-NTX] in Sites 1 and 2 and interim methadone in Site 3 with enhanced treatment-as usual (ETAU); (2) the additional benefit of patient navigation plus medications at Sites 2 and 3 vs. medication alone vs. ETAU. Participants are adults with OUD incarcerated in jail and transitioning to the community. ResultsWe describe the rationale, specific aims, and designs of three separate studies harmonized to enhance their scientific yield to investigate how to best prevent jail inmates from relapsing to opioid use and associated problems as they transition back to the community. ConclusionsConducting drug abuse research during incarceration is challenging and study designs with data harmonization across different sites can increase the potential value of research to develop effective treatments for individuals in jail with OUD.

Time-In-Cell: The ASCA-Liman 2014 National Survey of Administrative Segregation in Prison

Time-In-Cell: The ASCA-Liman 2014 National Survey of Administrative Segregation in Prison