UCLA

Despite numerous indicators that mental illness (MI) is prevalent among people who are incarcerated, the nature of the relationship between MI and incarceration is yet to be fully understood. Scholars continue to debate whether MI has a unique relationship to repeat offending or if it is related to other key risk factors. Using an administrative dataset from Georgia (n = 24,046), this dissertation examined the extent to which individuals mandated to receive mental health treatment on parole have a greater likelihood of rearrest – over a three-year period – than individuals without this parole condition. Additionally, the dissertation tested the extent to which MI moderates the relationship between criminogenic risk factors – employment and substance use – and rearrest. A series of logistic regression analyses were used to examine these relationships. Individuals identified as having a MI were more likely to be rearrested (OR = 1.17, 95% CI [1.07-1.27]). Criminogenic risk was also found to predict rearrest for the sample; increased risk assessment score indicated a higher likelihood of rearrest (OR = 1.14, 95% CI [1.11-1.16]), increased positive drug tests predicted a greater likelihood of rearrest (OR = 1.64, 95% CI [1.42-1.91]), and increased time employed reduced the likelihood of rearrest (OR = .39, 95% CI [.35-.44]). MI was found to moderate the relationships between both substance use and employment with being rearrested. The relationship between substance use and recidivism initially differed between the two groups, but as substance use increased the difference became nonsignificant. Employment served as a greater protective factor for individuals without MI. These findings suggest that MI and criminogenic risk factors should be addressed to reduce recidivism. The results also suggest that it is important to understand how MI may relate to criminogenic risk factors. Policymakers and practitioners should focus on developing and implementing strategies and treatment programs to address MI and criminogenic needs. Future research is needed to examine the extent to which mandated mental health treatment reduces recidivism, investigate whether the severity of symptoms or type of mental health disorder relates differently to the likelihood of rearrest, and explore how MI may interact with other criminogenic risk factors.