Gender differences and risk of arrest among offenders with serious mental illness

J Behav Health Serv Res. 2011 Jan;38(1):16-28. doi: 10.1007/s11414-010-9217-8.

Abstract

Despite the increasing number of men and women with serious mental illness (SMI) incarcerated in America's jails, little research exists on the role gender may play in arrest among persons with SMI. This study examined correlates of arrests among offenders with SMI, specifically the role of gender. County criminal justice records, as well as county and statewide social service archival databases, were used to identify jail inmates with SMI in a large urban county in Florida. Of the 3,769 inmates identified, 41% were female. This study identified three distinct classes of male and female offenders within which persons had similar trajectories of arrests over the 4-year study period representing those with minimal, low, and high arrest rates. Findings suggest some important differences between women and men in risk factors for re-arrests. Attention to these factors may improve the ability to prevent future recidivism among men and women with SMI.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Crime / classification*
  • Crime / psychology
  • Crime / statistics & numerical data
  • Criminals / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Criminals / psychology
  • Criminals / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Florida / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Likelihood Functions
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / psychology*
  • Mental Health Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Middle Aged
  • Police
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index*
  • Sex Factors
  • Urban Population
  • Young Adult