How mental health affects a person’s odds of being arrested while on parole

By Matthew Biddle

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Individuals who have a mental illness are more likely to be rearrested after being released from prison than those without a mental illness, according to a new study by a University at Buffalo School of Social Work researcher.

The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that one in seven people in federal or state prison show signs of serious psychological distress.

“Jails and prisons are the largest mental health facilities in the country,” says D. Michael Applegarth, PhD, assistant professor in the UB School of Social Work and author of the study published in the latest issue of the Journal of Criminal Justice. “It’s critical to understand the relationship between mental health and recidivism so we can develop interventions that support successful re-entry, improve well-being and address public safety concerns.”

Applegarth analyzed administrative records from more than 24,000 individuals who were released from Georgia state prisons between January 2013 and December 2015. He compared data from individuals who were mandated to receive mental health treatment as a condition of their parole with the rest of the individuals in the sample.

Over the three-year period following their release from prison, individuals with a mental illness were more likely to be rearrested for a felony or misdemeanor offense.

An increase in positive drug tests was associated with a greater likelihood of being rearrested across the sample.

Conversely, the longer someone was employed, the less likely it was that they’d be arrested while on parole. However, individuals with a mental illness were still more likely to be arrested than those without a mental illness who were employed for the same amount of time, the study found.

“Finding a job is important for anyone during re-entry, but so is ensuring that employment contributes to your well-being,” Applegarth says. “If a job is not responsive to your circumstances and needs, it can actually increase your stress and mental health challenges, and ultimately lead to negative outcomes.”

Applegarth says that while supporting treatment programs is essential for individual well-being and public safety, policymakers should invest in community services and policies that can help reduce the number of individuals with mental illness who are incarcerated in the first place. For example, research shows that collaborating across systems can help to identify and support people who are experiencing financial challenges, substance use issues or mental health struggles that could otherwise lead them into the criminal legal system.

“States must reduce their reliance on incarceration to respond to those in crisis in order to make long-term progress on ending mass incarceration,” Applegarth says.

“Some practical strategies to improve community supervision outcomes include limiting the maximum size of caseloads, reducing the burden placed on those under supervision and allocating funds for agencies to implement evidence-based practices,” Applegarth continues. “Overall, social workers are uniquely qualified to help communities evaluate systems and practices and provide guidance on how mental illness may create challenges for individuals in the criminal legal system.”

Matthew Biddle
Director of Communications and Marketing
School of Social Work
Tel: 716-645-1226
mrbiddle@buffalo.edu