Examining the Association Between Co-occurring Mental and Substance Use Disorders and Institutional Misconduct Among Female State Inmates

Abstract

In view of the vast numbers of individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders within the offender population, the scarcity of research on the potential exacerbating effects of co-occurring disorders on prisoner misconduct is surprising. With a sample of 1,470 incarcerated women offenders in Pennsylvania, this study examined prisoner misconduct among four distinct groups: 1) inmates with co-occurring disorders, 2) those with mental illness only, 3) inmates with substance use disorders only, and 4) prisoners with no mental health or substance use disorders net the effects of other factors demonstrated in prior studies to influence institutional misconduct. Results suggested that female prisoners with mental health and co-occurring disorders were significantly more likely than those with no disorders to be charged with prison misconduct . Co-occurring disorder inmates were also more likely to be charged with both minor and serious misconduct compared to inmates with no disorders. The results of this study suggest that menttal health and co-occurring disorders may hinder the ability of some female offenders to successfully assimilate to the prison environment as evidenced by higher rates of institutional misbehavior. Practice and policy implications are discussed