Which sociodemographic and clinical characteristics are associated with recurrent incarcerations in adult male people who are incarcerated? A cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT

Although risk factors for recidivism were extensively studied, re-incarcerations still account for a disproportionate amount of overall service use and cost. Therefore, the main objectives of the study were (1) to estimate the prevalence of re-incarcerations in a sample of male incarcerated people and (2) to verify if some socio-demographic and clinical features including impulsivity can be risk factors of re-incarceration. We conducted a cross-sectional study recruiting 479 newly arrived incarcerated people in an Italian detention centre, between 2018 and 2022. The incarcerated individuals were interviewed to collect clinical information. Impulsivity was assessed by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11). A total of 479 consecutive male incarcerated people was included. Two hundred and seventy-six of them (57.6%) had previously been incarcerated. Logistic regression analysis showed that having higher age, to be married or in relationship, to have low-medium level of education, housing instability, low or no income, cocaine use disorder in the last year and a history of non-suicidal self-injuries increased the likelihood of recurrent incarcerations. Moreover, re-incarceration was associated with higher rate of personality disorders and higher scores on attentional and motor impulsivity. Reintegration programs should address some risk factors associated with re-incarceration and promote social rehabilitation among incarcerated individuals.

HIGHLIGHTS

1. High rates of reincarceration among prisoners are associated with important economic burden.

2. We investigated sociodemographic and clinical predictors of reincarceration.

3. Some modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors increase the likelihood of repeat incarcerations.

4. Some specific domains of impulsivity may be associated with higher risk of reincarceration.

5. The results indicate the need to implement specific interventions to reduce reincarceration.

KEYWORDS:

• Prison
• reincarceration
• recidivism
• impulsivity
• mental health
• cross-sectional

Acknowledgements

We express our sincere appreciation to all prison staff and administration in Monza for their cooperation in this study.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This research received no external funding.