1. Mental Health Service Recipients and Prison Work Release: How Do the Mentally Ill Fare Compared to Other Inmates in Prison Work Release Programs?
- Author
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Way, Bruce B., Abreu, Dan, Ramirez‐Romero, Doris, Aziz, David, and Sawyer, Donald A.
- Subjects
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FORENSIC sciences , *MENTAL illness , *WORK release of prisoners , *WOMEN criminals , *INSTITUTIONALIZED persons - Abstract
The objective of this study was to compare the success rate of the mentally ill and other inmates on prison work release within gender groups. Mentally ill (MI) men ( n = 42) had a higher success rate (79%) than other men (NMI) (61%) ( n = 49), but this difference only approached statistical significance ( p = 0.07), and mental illness did not distinguish male success/failures in regression analyses. Mentally ill women ( n = 51) had a statistically significant lower success rate (58%) than other women inmates ( n = 49) (83%) on work release. The difference in rates, however, only occurred in the group of women who were currently in prison due to a parole violation, not new court commitments. Regression analysis confirmed the importance of mental illness and current commitment as a parole violator. A greater number of MI men should be allowed to participate in work release. Women with mental health issues who had prior trouble on parole may need enhanced services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2007
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