Predictors of recidivism in a sample of high-risk, jailed women
Abstract
Female inmates are a significant and growing population, and are arrested and re-arrested at alarmingly high rates. The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of jail recidivism in a sample of 245 hazardously drinking incarcerated women. Negative binomial regression was used to test a comprehensive set of predictors, controlling for important covariates. In the six month study period, 43.67% of participants had been re-arrested at least once. Re-arrest was positively predicted by having a sex related charge (z=2.02, p=.044). Total at risk days was negatively predictive (z =-2.10, p=.035). Drug use severity was moderately positively predictive (z=1.88, p=.060). While no other predictor variables were significant, social support was found to moderate self-control (z=2.27, p=.023), where higher levels of social support interacted significantly with lower levels of self-control to predict recidivism. Findings from this study highlight the extremely high rates of re-arrest in a sample of high-risk jailed women. Targeting commercial sex workers and those using drugs with adequate and effective case management following release could be an important step in reducing recidivism in this population.^
Subject Area
Psychology, Behavioral|Women's Studies|Sociology, Criminology and Penology
Recommended Citation
Celeste M Caviness,
"Predictors of recidivism in a sample of high-risk, jailed women"
(2011).
Dissertations and Master's Theses (Campus Access).
Paper AAI1491264.
http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/dissertations/AAI1491264