The Association of Administrative Segregation Placement and Other Risk Factors with the Self-Injury-Free Time of Male Prisoners

Abstract

The current study examined the relationship between risk factors for prisoner self-injurious behavior (SIB) and the amount of time male prisoners function without engaging in SIB (SIB-free time), and obtained estimates of SIB-free time for selected SIB prisoner subgroups dependent on their housing status. Conditional Cox regression analysis revealed that a risk model consisting of developmental, mental health/health, legal/offense, and institutional functioning factors accounted for 56% of the difference in risk between SIB (n = 132) and non-SIB male prisoners (n = 132) who were matched according to security level and conviction prefix, estimating a SIB risk probability of ≤.50 at ≥36 months of SIB-free time. Survival analyses revealed that administrative segregation placement drastically reduced SIB-free periods for certain SIB prisoner subgroups. Some potential practice implications for correctional mental health and security/classification professionals and directions for future research are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• administrative segregation
• prison
• prisoners
• self-harm risk
• self-injurious behavior

Notes

Note: SIB = self-injurious behavior; DSM-IV = Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).

Note. SIB = self-injurious behavior; n = 132.

Likelihood ratio model χ ² = 239.79 (15)∗∗∗∗; CNS = central nervous system; b =weight; SE =standard error; OR = Odds ratio; OR < 1 = % reduction in risk. N = 264.

Note. ADSEG = administrative segregation; GP = general population; SIB = self-injurious behavior; CNS = central nervous system; NOS = not-otherwise-specified. n = 132.

The views, results, and opinions stated herein are solely the author's and do not necessarily reflect those of the Michigan Department of Corrections.