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Relationship Between Recidivism and Mental Illness in Criminology
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Relationship Between Recidivism and Mental Illness in Criminology
Introduction
This research paper examines the correlation between mental illness and recidivism in the
criminal justice system, a subject that holds profound implications and is worthy of future
research. Thus, efforts should be made to ensure that there are some gaps in the existing
literature to pave the way for future research. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to review
current literature on this topic of interest and highlight the gaps that require additional research.
Based on the analysis of literature findings and theoretical concepts, this synthesis aims to
present an analytical review of the relationship between mental illness and recidivism with
consideration of issues within criminology about these factors. It is crucial to determine how
interventions and policies can address these gaps and lend support, which will help prevent high
levels of recidivism among mentally ill offenders to the benefit of the offenders and society in its
entirety.
Variables Identification
The independent variable for this research paper is mental illness, while the dependent
variable is recidivism. The justification for categorizing mental illness as the independent
variable relies on the observation of its impact on people and their functioning in criminal justice
contexts. Mental health condition relates to several psychological disorders that affect behavior,
mood, and thinking processes, requiring professional help, such as depression, schizophrenia,
bipolar disorders, and anxiety disorders, among others (Baker et al., 2023). By affecting thoughts
and behaviors while limiting social skills, these impairments lead to criminality across various
activities and make mental illness a pertinent facet for criminological investigation. Recidivism,
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as the dependent variable, defines the likelihood of the same subjects getting rearrested,
convicted, or imprisoned within a short period after they have finished serving their term in jail
(Zgoba et al., 2020). The high rate of offenders with mental illness who re-offend after release
from prison requires an understanding of the variables in question.
Research Question
The research question: "To what extent, if any, is mental illness related to recidivism in
incarcerated populations?"
This question guides the literature review search in that it narrows down the focus of both
the literature search and the integration of findings towards assessing the extant literature
supporting this relationship. In terms of exploring the degree of association, this research
question contributes beneficial information in understanding subtle variations on the correlation
between mental health disorders and recidivism, what kinds of mental disorders affect the
likelihood of repeating a crime, the contribution of treatment approaches, and proffering other
factors that are explored in Eren's research of 2024. Moreover, it also defines further research
and areas of future studies by acknowledging the loopholes in previous research. To identify the
vectors of this relationship and build interfering interventions and policies for the treatment of
mental health patients with a history of interaction with the criminal justice system, it is crucial
to comprehend the specifics of the association above to reduce the recurrence of crime by these
individuals.
Annotated Bibliography
Stone, A. G., Spivak, B. L., Lloyd, C. D., Papalia, N. L., & Serin, R. C. (2022). Clients'
current presentation yields best prediction of criminal recidivism: Jointly modeling repeated
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assessments of risk and recidivism outcomes in a community sample of paroled New Zealanders.
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 90(11), 872–883., focuses on the predictive value
of current client presentation for recidivism. It emphasizes the importance of ongoing
assessments to predict recidivism accurately.
Heimke, I. M., Connelly, M., Clarke, A., De Mario, B., Breslin, M. A., Furdock, R.,
Moore, T. A., & Vallier, H. A. (2023). Recidivism after orthopedic trauma has diminished over
time. European Journal of Trauma & Emergency Surgery, 49(4), 1891–1896. investigates
recidivism patterns post-orthopedic trauma, indicating a decline in recidivism rates over time.
Despite differing approaches, all three articles contribute valuable insights into the relationship
between mental illness and recidivism, highlighting the need for further research.
Cohen, T. R., Fronk, G. E., Kiehl, K. A., Curtin, J. J., & Koenigs, M. (2024). Clarifying
the relationship between mental illness and recidivism using machine learning: A retrospective
study. PLoS ONE, 19(2), 1–19., utilizes machine learning to examine the association between
mental health disorders and recidivism. It identifies a significant link between certain disorders
and increased recidivism risk, underlining the need for targeted interventions.
In conclusion, this research paper offers an extensive literature review on reoffending
among individuals with mental illness in the criminal justice system. Using articles for this
analysis, it is possible to focus on the existing aspects of this relationship, such as the explanation
of the client presentation regarding predictions and the use of machine learning in making this
connection clearer. In this work, much has been learned about the necessity of continual
formative and summative evaluations, interventions specific to students, and the need for more
research to prevent recidivism. It can provide a groundwork for mental health and recidivism and
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create a foundation for further examination and development of evidence-based practices in
criminology.
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References
Baker, S., Javakhishvili, M., & Widom, C. S. (2023). Childhood family and neighborhood
socioeconomic status, psychopathy, and adult criminal behavior. Legal &
Criminological Psychology, 28(1), 106–121.
https://doi-org.ezproxy.umgc.edu/10.1111/lcrp.12228
Cohen, T. R., Fronk, G. E., Kiehl, K. A., Curtin, J. J., & Koenigs, M. (2024). Clarifying the
relationship between mental illness and recidivism using machine learning: A
retrospective study. PLoS ONE, 19(2), 1–19.
https://doi-org.ezproxy.umgc.edu/10.1371/journal.pone.0297448
Eren, O., & Owens, E. (2024). Economic Booms and Recidivism. Journal of Quantitative
Criminology, 40(2), 343–372. https://doi-org.ezproxy.umgc.edu/10.1007/s10940-023-
09571-2
Heimke, I. M., Connelly, M., Clarke, A., De Mario, B., Breslin, M. A., Furdock, R., Moore,
T. A., & Vallier, H. A. (2023). Recidivism after orthopedic trauma has diminished
over time. European Journal of Trauma & Emergency Surgery, 49(4), 1891–1896.
https://doi-org.ezproxy.umgc.edu/10.1007/s00068-023-02274-0
Stone, A. G., Spivak, B. L., Lloyd, C. D., Papalia, N. L., & Serin, R. C. (2022). Clients'
current presentation yields best prediction of criminal recidivism: Jointly modeling
repeated assessments of risk and recidivism outcomes in a community sample of
paroled New Zealanders. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 90(11),
872–883. https://doi-org.ezproxy.umgc.edu/10.1037/ccp0000766
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Zgoba, K. M., Pizarro, J. M., & Salerno, L. M. (2020). Assessing the Impact of Restrictive
Housing on Inmate Post-Release Criminal Behavior. American Journal of Criminal
Justice, 45(1), 102–125. https://doi-org.ezproxy.umgc.edu/10.1007/s12103-019-
09496-2
