Predicting recidivism for offenders in UK substance dependence treatment: do mental health symptoms matter?
| Pages | 102-115 |
| Published date | 09 September 2014 |
| Date | 09 September 2014 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JCP-02-2014-0006 |
| Author | Josefien J.F. Breedvelt,Lucy V. Dean,Gail Y. Jones,Caroline Cole,Hattie C.A. Moyes |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Criminal psychology |
Predicting recidivism for offenders in UK
substance dependence treatment:
do mental health symptoms matter?
Josefien J.F. Breedvelt, Lucy V. Dean, Gail Y. Jones, Caroline Cole and Hattie C.A. Moyes
Josefien J.F. Breedvelt is a
Senior Research Officer,
Lucy V. Dean is a Research
Manager, Gail Y. Jones is the
Deputy CEO of RAPt, Caroline
Cole is the Head of Research
and Implementation and Hattie
C.A. Moyes is a Senior
Research Officer, all are based
at the Research Department at
the Rehabilitation for Addicted
Prisoners Trust (RAPt),
London, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess whether mental health symptoms affect one-year
reoffending rates upon release from prison for participants engaging in substance dependence treatment
in the UK.
Design/methodology/approach – A retrospective cohort study was used to assess reconviction
outcomes upon release. The Comprehensive Addiction and Psychological Evaluation (CAAPE) was
administered to 667 inmates admitted to the programme. The effect of mental health, drug use, and static
risk factors on reoffending was assessed at one-year post release.
Findings – Logistic regression analysis showed that symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder at the start of
substance dependence treatment increased the likelihood to reoffend, whilst Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder symptoms and length of sentence decreased the likelihood to reoffend. Antisocial Personality
Disorder symptoms show a trend towards increasing the likelihood to reoffend. In addition, previously
established risk factors for reoffending, including dependence on heroin, crack/cocaine, and poly drug use
significantly increased the likelihood of reconviction.
Practical implications – Depressive symptomatology pre-treatment could affect reoffending outcomes for
participants in substance dependence treatment in prison. An integrative approach addressing both
substance misuse and mental health factors is pivotal. Future efforts to address both simultaneously can be
made to improve assessment, training, treatment, and through care for prisoners in substance dependence
treatment.
Originality/value – Few studies have assessed the effect of mental health factors on reoffending outcomes
for offenders in substance dependence treatment. A large sample was studied in an understudied
population of UK prisoners in substance dependence treatment. The results have implications for clinical
settings where mental health symptoms are not addressed concurrently with substance dependence.
This finding can inform policy makers and practitioners who provide substance dependence treatment
in prison.
Keywords Mental health, Prison, Depression, UK, Drug dependence treatment, Reconviction
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Understanding the factors that influence reoffending upon release from prison can inform
offender management and rehabilitation (Brunton-Smith and Hopkins, 2013). This study
contributes to the existing research on reoffending by investigating the impact mental health
symptoms have on reconviction for prisoners engaged in the Rehabilitation for Addicted
Prisoners Trust (RAPt) Substance Dependence Treatment Programme (SDTP).
First, this section will present an overview of the risk factors that have shown to be associated
with recidivism. Second, a description of the RAPt programme will be provided. This section
will conclude with an overview of the aims and scope of this study.
The authors would like to thank
previous members of the research
team for their contribution in data
entry and collection. Special thanks
to Steven L. Proctor and Norman
G. Hoffmann for their feedback on
the CAAPE section.
PAGE 102
j
JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY
j
VOL. 4 NO. 2 2014, pp. 102-115, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2009-3829 DOI 10.1108/JCP-02-2014-0006
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