Comparing Reactive/Proactive Violence between Persons with and without Major Psychiatric Disorders in a Community Correctional Sample: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT

Violent recidivism among people supervised as probationers and/or parolees in the community is a significant concern. Extant research suggests that the best way to examine violence is to delineate violence into two types: reactive and proactive. We recruited and interviewed 98 probationers in a large US east-coast metropolitan area to test the association between offenders with/without psychiatric disorders and reactive/proactive violent recidivism. The sample was equally divided between probationers/parolees with/without psychiatric disorders and the two groups were characteristically comparable at baseline. We collected recidivism data 45-days following the initial interview and used a longitudinal design to examine the association between violent recidivism-type (reactive/proactive violence) and probationer/parolee type (with/without severe psychiatric disorder). Probationers/parolees with a psychiatric disorder who recidivated violently were more likely to engage in reactive violence, whereas those without a psychiatric disorder who recidivated violently were more likely to engage in proactive violence. While people with psychiatric disorders are rarely violent, when they do act violently their violence appears to be more reactive and impulsive. This aligns with prior research about psychiatric symptoms as triggers for violent reactions. Findings may prove useful for correctional staff and treatment-providers who are tasked to manage people with psychiatric disorders in the community.

KEYWORDS:

• Violence
• mental health
• community corrections

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).