NCJ Number
145725
Date Published
Unknown
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Based on a random sample of 728 male jail detainees, this article presents prevalence rates by race/ethnicity and age for nine psychiatric and substance-use disorders. Researchers also identified the crime that resulted in the subject's arrest.
Abstract
The study used the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule, Version III. Two-thirds of the sample had a disorder other than antisocial personality at some time in their lives; one-half of these had an episode within 2 weeks of the interview. At the time of the interview, just over 30 percent had either a severe mental disorder or substance-use disorder. Jail detainees with severe mental disorders or substance-use disorders were most often in jail because they had committed nonviolent crimes. The finding that whites had higher rates of some disorders than blacks suggests a possible bias in the criminal justice process. Blacks have higher arrest rates than whites and, because they are poorer, they may have difficulty making bail. There were high rates of schizophrenia (9.46 percent) among Hispanics. The youngest age group (16-21) had the lowest prevalence rates for almost every disorder. Implications for jail health care management are discussed. 42 references and 4 tables