Incarceration and Criminal Justice

Recently published data suggest that incorporating evidence-based treatments into juvenile drug courts enhances their effectiveness by decreasing subsequent rates of adolescent substance abuse and criminal behaviors, such as assault. According to the researchers, despite fewer criminal activities among youth appearing in drug court, increased surveillance of these youth may lead to greater rates of arrest. Youth in any of the drug court conditions engaged in fewer criminal activities than youth appearing in family courts. However, these relative reductions in antisocial behaviors did not translate to corresponding decreases in rearrest or incarceration. Greater surveillance of youth in drug court, compared to family court, may lead to greater arrest rates despite fewer crimes committed.

Juvenile drug courts provide continuous judicial supervision to young offenders, and also make available support assistance such as substance abuse treatment and mental health services.

In this study, which was supported in part by NIDA, 161 substance-abusing, juvenile offenders were randomly assigned to family court with community services (such as group substance-abuse treatment provided by local community-based practitioners), drug court with community services, drug court with multisystemic therapy (MST), or drug court with MST and contingency management (CM) therapy. MST is an intensive family- and community-based treatment that addresses multiple determinants of serious antisocial behavior in juvenile offenders, such as low parental monitoring, associating with drug-abusing peers, and poor school performance. CM is a form of therapy based upon a simple behavioral principle—if a behavior is reinforced or rewarded, it is more likely to occur in the future. Family court, in some states, has jurisdiction over family disputes (especially those involving children).

During a one-year assessment period, the researchers observed that drug court with MST and CM was most effective at reducing light alcohol use, binge drinking, marijuana, and polydrug abuse among youth. Results also showed that youth in drug court alone or any combination of drug court and accompanying treatment engaged in significantly fewer status offenses, such as truancy and alcohol possession, and crimes against a person.

What it means: The findings support the viability of juvenile drug courts, which are intensive treatment regimens established within and supervised by juvenile courts to provide specialized services for eligible druginvolved youth and their families. The study also supports the capacity of some evidence-based treatments of adolescent substance abuse to enhance juvenile drug court outcomes related to substance abuse.

Dr. Scott Henggeler and his colleagues at the Medical University of South Carolina published their results in the February 2006 issue of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

NIDA NewScan, July 24, 2006

Race, educational attainment, or a frequent pattern of drug abuse are among the leading factors that increase the likelihood of incarcerated, chronic drug abusers having unmet healthcare needs, according to new research.

A total of 661 drug abusing men in the Kentucky prison system were interviewed by NIDAfunded researchers to identify factors that increase the potential for unmet healthcare needs. Study participants completed self-reports to measure healthcare status across three domains— physical, behavioral, and overall health problems.

A longer history of drug abuse was a significant predictor of unmet behavioral healthcare needs, whereas more frequent drug abuse in the year prior to incarceration predicted unmet physical healthcare needs. According to the researchers, being from a rural area may impact an individual's access to healthcare.

Contrary to previous research findings, white respondents were more likely to report unmet physical and overall healthcare needs than non-white participants. Furthermore, respondents with a high school education or above were more likely to report unmet healthcare needs across all three domains. Researchers speculate that there may be an association between higher educational attainment and a more critical assessment of one's health status.

What it means: Because the criminal justice system houses individuals at high risk for drug abuse, mental illness, and infectious disease, the corrections system fosters the unique potential to link vulnerable populations with needed health and social services. According to these research findings, specific predictors exist among incarcerated drug abusers that give rise to unmet healthcare needs. Understanding factors related to the failure of drug abusers to seek or receive treatment is essential for the effective provision, planning, and funding of healthcare services. Additional research is needed to further identify and mitigate variables that may contribute to unmet healthcare needs in this population.

This study, led by Dr. Narevic at the University of Kentucky's School of Medicine, was published in Substance Use & Misuse, Volume 41, Number 4.

NIDA NewsScan, July 24, 2006

A recently published NIDA-supported study suggests that previous incarceration is one of a number of factors associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among homeless men.

Researchers recruited 198 homeless men in a Los Angeles community health center to establish potential risk factors for HCV infection, which could then be used to guide clinical decision-making regarding HCV screening and counseling in homeless populations. About half had served time in prison and 83 percent had spent time in jail.

The scientists observed that homeless men with HCV infection were older and more likely to be cocaine injectors than those not infected. Additionally, participants who reported spending time in jail or prison were almost 11 times more likely than their counterparts who had not been incarcerated to be infected with HCV. Other factors that were strongly related to HCV infection among the study participants were a history of sharing drug injection equipment and injection of cocaine within the previous six months. However, homeless men who had no history of injection drug use but had been in jail or prison were almost six times as likely to be HCV positive. Among homeless men not reporting lifetime injection drug use, sharing toothbrushes, having multiple tattoos, and being in fair or poor health were associated with HCV infection.

What it means: HCV is the most common chronic bloodborne infection in the United States, with at least 4 million Americans believed to be infected. HCV is the leading indication for liver transplant in the United States. Injection drug abuse accounts for at least 60 percent of all chronic and new HCV infections annually, but other risk factors, such as time spent in jail or prison, may be worthwhile factors to include in HCV screening tools.

Dr. Adeline Nyamathi and her colleagues at the University of California, Los Angeles, published their findings in the June 2006 issue of the Western Journal of Nursing Research.

NIDA NewsScan, July 24, 2006