Predictors of Recidivism Among Rural and Urban Drug-Involved Prisoners

Abstract

The present study examined recidivism in a sample of rural and urban drug-involved prisoners who were interviewed face-to-face shortly before parole and again 1 year later. Sociodemographic information, substance use, mental health, and criminal histories were collected. Variables significant at the bivariate level were used in separate logistic regression models to identify the strongest predictors of recidivism for rural and urban participants. While substance use and incarceration at a younger age predicted recidivism in both groups, several additional predictors emerged for urban participants including being younger, non-White, not employed full-time, and more extensive mental health problems and criminal histories.

KEYWORDS:

• criminal history
• drug-involved prisoners
• recidivism
• rural/urban
• mental health