Sample Of Prison Inmates Research Articles

Associations of Reversal Learning Performance With Personality Disorder Profile and Drug Abuse History in a Sample of Prison Inmates.

Prison inmate samples present a high prevalence of impulsivity- and compulsivity-related behavioral problems. The Probabilistic Reversal Learning Task (PRLT) is a useful tool to assess decision-making, and we explore its associations with inmates' personality disorder (antisocial personality disorder, APD; obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, OCPD; or both) and history of drug abuse. Mixed-effects methods were used to model acquisition and reacquisition curves across PRLT, in a sample of 275 prison inmates diagnosed with OCPD, APD, or both. Two aspects were assessed: general discrimination learning and decision-making inflexibility. Participants with a mixed personality disorder profile showed a clear pattern of decisional inflexibility. A history of drug abuse was associated with a general poorer performance but not with decision-making inflexibility. Inability to adapt to changing contingencies, and thus to adverse consequences of previously rewarded choices, was not linked to compulsivity, as hypothesized to be present in OCPD and substance use disorders, but to the mixed APD/OCPD profile.

Understanding Childhood Victimization Experiences and Mental Health Outcomes in a Sample of Prison Inmates in Northern Chile

In this paper, the weak points have been investigated, the proposal to solve them, the application of the solution and the comparison of the results in the mode of simulation and experimental testing have been discussed. For this purpose, a four-wheel mobile robot has been considered for simulation and implementation, and a linear quadratic regulator controller and a nonlinear model predictive controller have been used to control it. But the combination of these classic and modern controllers with machine learning can greatly help to make these controllers work more accurately; As a result, in order to increase the accuracy of the performance of these controllers, by training neural networks of multilayer perceptrons, the controllers have been made intelligent. Controllers with cost function have coefficients as weighting to the matrix of system state variables and control input, which are greatly affected by changing these two weighting matrices of problem solving and optimization. For this reason, it is necessary to extract these two matrices for each separate path in order to improve the performance of the controller by trial and error. But by applying the proposed network which is trained with a new algorithm, not only the performance accuracy has increased, but the network extracts these two matrices without the need to spend human energy. Also, in order to reduce the existing time delays, especially in the implementation of the nonlinear controller on the robot in the experimental mode, by training other neural networks to optimally extract the benefit of the forecast horizon, reducing the calculations and increasing the speed of the solution has been achieved. In the hardware part, by examining and using operators such as the pixy camera and the U2D2 interface, which are faster than the usual method, the solution time has been reduced.

The Predictive Ability of Social Support of Psychological Hardiness and the Meaning of Life Among a Sample of Prison Inmates

تهدف الدراسة الحالية إلى الكشف عن العلاقة بين الصلابة النفسية ومعنى الحياة وقدرة الدعم الاجتماعي على التنبؤ بمستوى الصلابة النفسية ومعنى الحياة لدى نزلاء السجون بمنطقة مكة المكرمة. كما تهدف أيضًا إلى الكشف عن الفروق بين متوسطات أفراد العينة في كل من الدعم الاجتماعي والصلابة النفسية ومعنى الحياة؛ وذلك وفقًا للمتغيرات الديموغرافية: النوع، الجنسية، العمر، مدة العقوبة، المستوى الاقتصادي، المستوى التعليمي، نوع الجريمة. ولجمع بيانات الدراسة، استخدمت الباحثة المنهج الوصفي؛ التنبئي، الارتباطي، والمقارن مع عينة الدراسة المكونة من (400) نزيل ونزيلة من نزلاء السجون بمنطقة مكة المكرمة باستخدام مقياس الدعم الاجتماعي من إعداد العنزي (2017)، ومقياس الصلابة النفسية من إعداد النجار والطلاع (2012)، ومقياس معنى الحياة من إعداد ستيجر وآخرين (Steger et al., 2006) وتعريب الباحثة، وأظهرت النتائج وجود علاقة طردية ذات دلالة إحصائية بين الصلابة النفسية ومعنى الحياة، ووجود علاقة طردية ذات دلالة إحصائية بين الدعم الاجتماعي والصلابة النفسية، في حين لم توجد علاقة بين الدعم الاجتماعي ومعنى الحياة، كما أسفرت النتائج أيضًا عن وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية بين متوسطات الدعم الاجتماعي تعزى لمتغير: العمر، مدة العقوبة، المستوى الاقتصادي، نوع الجريمة، ووجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية بين متوسطات الصلابة النفسية تعزى لمتغير: النوع، العمر، المستوى التعليمي، بالإضافة إلى وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية بين متوسطات معنى الحياة تعزى لمتغير المستوى التعليمي. كما أشارت النتائج أيضًا إلى أن للدعم الاجتماعي قدرة تنبئية بمستوى الصلابة النفسية، بينما لا يتنبأ بمستوى معنى الحياة، وفي ضوء نتائج الدراسة توصي الباحثة باستحداث برامج إرشادية وعلاجية لنزلاء السجون من شأنها تحسين مستويات صلابتهم النفسية ومعنى الحياة لديهم، مما يُحسن من تجربة إعادة تأهيلهم داخل السجون وتحقيق الاستفادة المثلى من الدعم الاجتماعي المقدم لهم.

On the reinforcing nature of crime and punishment: An exploration of inmates’ self-reported likelihood of reoffending

ABSTRACTCountering deterrence theory, recent scholarship suggests that incarceration may be criminogenic. This study theorizes that two processes influence recidivism expectations: If offending alleviates status frustration, or if criminal justice sanctions normalize deviance and instigate an identity transformation supportive of procrime values, then inmates will be more likely to report an increased likelihood of reoffending upon release. Based on self-report data from a sample of prison inmates, results indicate that a lack of life achievements and greater exposure to criminal justice sanctions discourages a commitment to desistance. Further, the psychosocial reinforcements provided by offending are positively associated with self-reported recidivism estimates.

Military Service and Lifetime Arrests: Examining the Effects of the Total Military Experience on Arrests in a Sample of Prison Inmates

Service in the military is an important event that may shape veterans’ life trajectories. Research has shown that military service is associated with increased risk of alcohol and substance abuse, mental illness, and antisocial behaviors, yet it remains unclear whether service places veterans at elevated risk of criminal justice involvement. In addition, most prior research treats military service as a dichotomous variable and does not consider the specific components of the military experience that might affect the impact that service has upon veterans. In the present study, a large sample of state prison inmates is utilized to test for the potential impact of military service, by itself, as well as age of entry, length of service, combat exposure, discharge type, and branch status on lifetime arrests. Results have implications for both military and criminal justice policies in ensuring that veterans have the assistance they need as they re-enter civilian life.

Crime Victimization among Gang and Nongang Prison Inmates: Examining Perceptions of Social Disorganization

The current study examines whether the relationship between gang membership and crime victimization exists among a sample of prison inmates, and if perceptions of social disorganization influences this relationship. More specifically, we examine whether (1) gang members are more likely to be victimized compared to nongang members, (2) perceptions of social disorganization are associated with victimization, and (3) accounting for inmates' offending mediates the relationship between social disorganization and victimization. A sample of gang and nongang members incarcerated in prison were interviewed about their involvement in crime, experiences with victimization, and perceptions of neighborhood disorganization. Results indicate that gang members are significantly more likely to be victimized compared to nongang members and perceptions of social disorganization explain the likelihood of victimization among gang members only. Crime perpetration mediates the relationship between perceptions of social disorganization and victimization among gang members.

Retrospective Evaluation of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with the Wender Utah Rating Scale in a Sample of Spanish Prison Inmates

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of childhood history of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in a sample of prison inmates. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study, which consisted of a sample of 100 inmates from penitentiary centers in Madrid. The instruments used were the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), the International Personality Disorder Examination, and a questionnaire of demographic, penitentiary, and toxicological data. For statistical analysis, the SPSS program was used with confidence interval estimation of 95%. The mean score of the WURS was 65.7 points. Fifty percent of the sample surpassed the cut-off point of 32 for the 25 best discriminative items in the Spanish validated version. A significant association was found between a childhood history of ADHD and antisocial and borderline personality disorders. The disorder was also found to be associated with autoaggressive behavior, more probability to be sanctioned in prison, and have a history of substance dependence.

Correlates of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections among prison inmates and officers in Ghana: A national multicenter study

BackgroundPrisons are known to be high-risk environments for the spread of bloodborne and sexually transmitted infections. Prison officers are considered to have an intermittent exposure potential to bloodborne infectious diseases on the job, however there has been no studies on the prevalence of these infections in prison officers in Ghana.MethodsA national multicenter cross-sectional study was undertaken on correlates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis infections in sample of prison inmates and officers from eight of ten regional central prisons in Ghana. A total of 1366 inmates and 445 officers were enrolled between May 2004 and December 2005. Subjects completed personal risk-factor questionnaire and provided blood specimens for unlinked anonymous testing for presence of antibodies to HIV, HCV and Treponema pallidum; and surface antigen of HBV (HBsAg). These data were analyzed using both univariate and multivariate techniques.ResultsAlmost 18% (1336) of 7652 eligible inmates and 21% (445) of 2139 eligible officers in eight study prisons took part. Median ages of inmates and officers were 36.5 years (range 16–84) and 38.1 years (range 25–59), respectively. Among inmates, HIV seroprevalence was 5.9%, syphilis seroprevalence was 16.5%, and 25.5% had HBsAg. Among officers tested, HIV seroprevalence was 4.9%, HCV seroprevalence was 18.7%, syphilis seroprevalence was 7.9%, and 11.7% had HBsAg. Independent determinants for HIV, HBV and syphilis infections among inmates were age between 17–46, being unmarried, being illiterate, female gender, being incarcerated for longer than median time served of 36 months, history of homosexuality, history of intravenous drug use, history of sharing syringes and drug paraphernalia, history of participation in paid sexual activity, and history of sexually transmitted diseases. Independent determinants for HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections among officers were age between 25–46, fale gender, being unmarried, being employed in prison service for longer than median duration of employment of 10 years, and history of sexually transmitted diseases.ConclusionThe comparably higher prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis in prison inmates and officers in Ghana suggests probable occupational related transmission. The implementation of infection control practices and risk reduction programs targeted at prison inmates and officers in Ghana is urgently required to address this substantial exposure risk.

Validity of the MMPI-2 basic and Harris-Lingoes subscales in a forensic sample.

The present study explored the MMPI-2 correlates of criminal history in a sample of prison inmates. Although Ma was the only basic scale to demonstrate a significant positive association to crime history, three Harris-Lingoes subscales also bore significant associations to this criterion. The Ma1 (amorality), Pd2 (authority problems), and Pd5 (self-alienation) subscales demonstrated positive associations with crime history. Hierarchical multiple-regression analyses were used to examine the incremental validity of the D, Pd, and Ma Harris-Lingoes subscales when added to their parent scales in the prediction of crime history. Only the Pd Harris-Lingoes subscales demonstrated incremental validity in the prediction of this criterion. The value of including the Ma and Pd Harris-Lingoes subscales in criminal risk assessment is discussed.

Self-Esteem, Depression, and Anxiety Evidenced by a Prison Inmate Sample: Interrelationships and Consequences for Prison Programming

Relatively little is known about the psychological characteristics of prison inmates and how recent imprisonment policies may affect those characteristics. This article examines levels of self-esteem, depression, and anxiety among a sample of prison inmates who recently completed or were enrolled in prerelease life skills courses. The data reveal these inmates to be a very depressed and anxious group with little self-esteem. Implications for further research and prison programming efforts are highlighted.

Physical abuse and physical punishment as precursors of suicidal behavior

AbstractContrary to theoretical predictions, experience of physical abuse as a child and physical punishment from the father was associated with an increased incidence of attempted suicide in a sample of prison inmates.

Alcoholism, Alcoholics Anonymous attendance, and outcome in a prison system.

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between attendance at meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and follow-up status in a sample of prison inmates. Subjects (N = 102) were administered three self-report measures of alcoholism: the MAST, CAGE, and Rosett Quantity-Frequency tests. AA attendance during incarceration was recorded. One-year follow-up status, ranging from transfer to a more secure facility to discharge from the prison system, was used as an outcome indicator. ResuLts revealed that 56% of the subjects met the criteria for alcoholism on at least one measure, and that scores on the alcoholism measures were significantly correlated with AA attendance. Thus, the most severe alcoholics were the best AA attenders. The hypothesis that greater AA attendance would predict follow-up outcome was not confirmed. However, the extent of drinking reported prior to admission (average alcohol quantity per week) was related to security status at 1-year follow-up. The greater the drinking quantity, the more likely the inmate was to be in a more secure facility. Possible explanations for the findings and the need for a longer follow-up period are discussed.

Some Effects of Type of Group and Sex on Attitudes toward Alcohol and Alcoholism*

AbstractAttitudes toward alcohol use as well as alcoholism were compared across three groups: a community sample, a sample of graduate social work students, and a sample of prison inmates who were also members of A. A. The data were concerned with two attitudinal domains: attitudinal affect and cognition (belief). The results indicated more similarity between the community respondents and the prison inmates than for either with the student sample on both kinds of attitudinal measures. Only in terms of familiarity with drinking, drinkers, and treatment resources, were the inmates more similar to the students than to the community sample. Sex differences occurred within the community sample but generally not within the student sample. Attitudes toward alcohol use were consistent with attitudes toward alcoholism, in that both types of attitudes tended to be positive or negative, and familiarity with drinking and alcoholism was not related to attitudinal affect or cognition.

Factors associated with psychoactive substance use among a sample of prison inmates in Ilesa, Nigeria

To determine the rates of psychoactive substance use before and during imprisonment among a sample of prisoners and the factors that are associated with current drug use among them. All the inmates of Ilesa medium security prison, who gave informed consent to participate, were interviewed with a questionnaire detailing socio-demographic, drug-use and imprisonment-related information. Majority of the prisoners were young adults. The current (one month) use rates of the substances were: tobacco, 13.7%; hypnosedatives, 11.4%; alcohol, 10.7%; stimulants, 9.6%; cannabis, 7.0%; pethidine/morphine, 2.3%; inhalants, 2.3%; cocaine, 2.3%; heroin, 1.3% and LSD, 0.0%. These rates were just slightly lower than rates of use before imprisonment for hypnosedatives, stimulants, cannabis, pethidine/ morphine and inhalants. Majority of current users of cannabis (71.4%) and tobacco (68.3%) were engaged in 'heavy use' of these substances. Analyses of factors that were significantly associated with the five commonly used substances (tobacco, hypnosedatives, alcohol, stimulants and cannabis) indicated that current tobacco use was associated with unemployment before imprisonment, being a sentenced prisoner, previous mental disorder and previous arrest(s) for drug offense. Current hypnosedatives use was associated with being a sentenced prisoner, previous arrest(s) for drug offense and being held for a major offense. Current stimulants use was associated with unemployment, previous arrest(s) for drug offense, previous imprisonment and longer duration of imprisonment. Current cannabis use was associated with higher age groups and being a sentenced prisoner. Cannabis use was also associated with previous arrest(s) for drug offense, previous imprisonment and being held for a major offense, a pattern which suggests that cannabis use may be associated with criminality than the other substances. The observation on pethidire/morphine does not conform to previous observation of non-use by prisoners in Nigeria. The rates of drug use are lower than figures reported from samples in western countries but similar to previous reports from Nigeria. The present observation on pethidine suggests that injecting drugs may be an emerging behaviour among prisoners in Nigeria. The prevalence rates of the substances and the similarity in the prisoners' access to drug before and during imprisonment call for drug prevention and treatment programmes within the criminal justice system in Nigeria.