Emphasis on Rehabilitation: From Inmates to Employees

Emphasis on Rehabilitation: From Inmates to Employees

Published: | Author: Stephen Tripodi

There is evidence that over the past few years, there is a paradigm shift occurring regarding correctional rehabilitation. Paradigm shifts represent a shift in the basic assumptions that guide our thoughts and behaviors. Since the end of rehabilitative ideals in the 1970s, the focus has been to be “tough on crime” by having long-term incarceration and very little rehabilitative programming. This era of mass incarceration has not led to the positive outcomes we desire, such as lowered recidivism rates.

Category: Rehabilitation
The relationship between childhood abuse and psychosis for women prisoners: Assessing the importance of frequency and type of victimization.

The relationship between childhood abuse and psychosis for women prisoners: Assessing the importance of frequency and type of victimization.

Published: | Author: Stephanie Kennedy, Stephen Tripodi, Carrie Pettus-Davis

This study examines the relationship between childhood victimization and self-reported current symptoms of psychosis in an incarcerated female population in the United States. Participants are 159 randomly selected women incarcerated in two North Carolina state prisons. Participants completed a battery of self-report measures to assess childhood victimization and current and lifetime experience of audio/visual hallucinations and delusions.

Category: Trauma, Mental Health, Incarcerated Women
To What Extent Is Criminal Justice Content Specifically Addressed in MSW Programs?

To What Extent Is Criminal Justice Content Specifically Addressed in MSW Programs?

Published: | Author: Matthew Epperson, Leslie Roberts, Andre Ivanoff, Stephen Tripodi, Christy Gilmer

This study examined the extent to which criminal justice content is addressed in all CSWE-accredited MSW programs in the United States (N = 192). Criminal justice content was measured in three areas: (1) dual or joint degree programs, (2) concentrations or specializations, and (3) coursework. Excluding social work and law classes, 22% of all MSW programs offered a course specific to criminal justice. Nine programs (5%) offered a concentration or specialization in criminal justice. Only 1% of MSW programs offered all three areas of criminal justice content.

Category: Criminal Justice System
Nonfatal Suicidal Behavior Among Women Prisoners: The Predictive Roles of Childhood Victimization, Childhood Neglect, and Childhood Positive Support

Nonfatal Suicidal Behavior Among Women Prisoners: The Predictive Roles of Childhood Victimization, Childhood Neglect, and Childhood Positive Support

Published: | Author: Stephen Tripodi, Eyitayo Onifade, Carrie Pettus-Davis

Women entering prison report high rates of childhood victimization. Women in prison also report higher rates of nonfatal suicidal behavior (self-reported suicide attempts) than women in the general population and similar rates to their male counterparts despite having significantly lower suicide rates than males in the general population. Yet, there is a dearth of research that addresses the relationship between childhood victimization and suicidality for women prisoners in the United States. 

Category: Trauma, Social Support, Mental Health, Incarcerated Women
Effects of personality disorder and impulsivity on emotional adaptations in prison among women offenders.

Effects of personality disorder and impulsivity on emotional adaptations in prison among women offenders.

Published: | Author: Senik Mahmood, Stephen Tripodi, Michael Vaughn, Kimberly Bender, Rachel Schwartz

The present study sought to better understand the influence of personality disorders and impulsivity on women's ability to adapt to incarceration. We analyzed the influence of personality disorders as screened with the structured clinical interview for personality disorders, and impulsivity as assessed with the Barratt impulsivity scale on depression and anxiety, sleeping problems, and feeling afraid of being attacked in prison among a large sample of women incarcerated in a Virginia prison.

Category: Mental Health, Incarcerated Women
Histories of childhood victimization and subsequent mental health problems, substance use, and sexual victimization for a sample of incarcerated women in the US.

Histories of childhood victimization and subsequent mental health problems, substance use, and sexual victimization for a sample of incarcerated women in the US.

Published: | Author: Stephen Tripodi, Carrie Pettus-Davis

Women are entering US prisons at nearly double the rate of men and are the fastest growing prison population. Current extant literature focuses on the prevalence of the incarceration of women, but few studies exist that emphasize the different trajectories to prison. For example, women prisoners have greater experiences of prior victimization, more reports of mental illness, and higher rates of illicit substance use. 

Category: Incarcerated Women, Trauma, Mental Health, Substance Use
Effects of Correctional-Based Programs for Female Inmates: A Systematic Review

Effects of Correctional-Based Programs for Female Inmates: A Systematic Review

Published: | Author: Stephen Tripodi, Sarah E. Bledsoe, Johnny S. Kim, Kimberly Bender

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of interventions for incarcerated women. Method: The researchers use a two-model system: the risk-reduction model for studies analyzing interventions to reduce recidivism rates, and the enhancement model for studies that target psychological and physical well-being. Results: Incarcerated women who participate in substance abuse interventions appear less likely to reoffend than those who do not participate. Enhancement model studies report mixed results.

Category: Incarcerated Women, In-Prison Intervention
Substance Abuse Treatment for Juvenile Offenders: A Review of Quasi-Experimental and Experimental Research

Substance Abuse Treatment for Juvenile Offenders: A Review of Quasi-Experimental and Experimental Research

Published: | Author: Stephen Tripodi, Kimberly Bender

This paper presents the results of a systematic review of the research literature to assess the effectiveness of substance abuse treatment programs for alcohol and marijuana use by juvenile offenders. The literature and database search generated five experimental or quasi-experimental studies that assessed alcohol outcomes for juvenile offenders and five experimental or quasi-experimental studies that assessed marijuana outcomes for juvenile offenders. Implications for future research are discussed.

Category: Substance Use, Juvenile Offenders
The Influence of Social Bonds on Recidivism: A Study of Texas Male Prisoners.

The Influence of Social Bonds on Recidivism: A Study of Texas Male Prisoners.

Published: | Author: Stephen Tripodi

The present study examines the influence of social bonds on recidivism for a random sample of 250 male offenders released from Texas prisons since 2001. Recidivism is a continuous variable, in which the researcher measured months between release from prison and reincarceration. Based on life-course theory, the researcher hypothesized that offenders released from prison who become employed or were married would have lower hazard ratios than offenders who were not employed or married.

Category: Social Support
Is Employment Associated With Reduced Recidivism?: The Complex Relationship Between Employment and Crime

Is Employment Associated With Reduced Recidivism?: The Complex Relationship Between Employment and Crime

Published: | Author: Stephen Tripodi, Johnny S. Kim, Kimberly Bender

This article explores the association between employment and recidivism for parolees released from Texas prisons. Along with determining whether obtaining employment on release from prison is associated with decreased odds of reincarceration, this article analyzes whether obtaining employment is associated with increased time to reincarceration. Proportional hazard models were used to examine the effect of employment on reincarceration over time. This analysis allowed a unique view of desistance from crime as a process of behavioral change with multiple stages.

Category: Recidivism
Determinants of substance abuse among incarcerated adolescents: Implications for brief treatment and crisis intervention.

Determinants of substance abuse among incarcerated adolescents: Implications for brief treatment and crisis intervention.

Published: | Author: Stephen Tripodi, David W. Springer, Kevin Corcoran

This study assessed the determinants of substance abuse among incarcerated youth. Because substance abuse is a predictor of incarceration and conduct disorder is known to increase the chances of youth abusing substances, the purpose of this study was to determine what seminal symptoms of conduct disorder seem to be the risk factors for substance abusers among incarcerated youth.

Category: Substance Use, Juvenile Offenders
Inmate suicide: Prevalence, assessment and protocols.

Inmate suicide: Prevalence, assessment and protocols.

Published: | Author: Stephen Tripodi, Kimberly Bender

This article describes the prevalence of suicide for incarcerated adults in detention centers, jails, and prisons; factors associated with suicide risk; methods for assessing suicide risk in this vulnerable population; and current protocols for suicide prevention programs in jails and prisons.

Category: Mental Health