Is the relationship between criminal thinking and recidivism the same for criminal justice–involved individuals from varying demographic backgrounds? Relying on two independent samples of offenders and two measures of criminal thinking, the current studies examined whether four demographic factors—gender, race, age, and education—moderated the relationship between criminal thinking and recidivism. Study 1 consisted of 226 drug-involved probationers enrolled in a randomized clinical trial. Study 2 consisted of 346 jail inmates from a longitudinal study. Logistic regression models suggested that the strength of the relationship between criminal thinking and subsequent recidivism did not vary based on participant demographics, regardless of justice system setting or measure of criminal thinking. Criminal thinking predicts recidivism similarly for people who are male, female, Black, White, older, younger, and more or less educated.
ContextBiospecimen analysis may enhance confidence in the accuracy of self-reported substance use among adolescents and transitional age youth (TAY). Associations between biospecimen types and self-reported use, however, are poorly characterized in the existing literature. Objective: We performed a systematic review of associations between biospecimen-confirmed and self-reported substance use. Data sources: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. Study selection: We included studies documenting associations between self-reported and biospecimen-confirmed substance use among adolescents (12-18 years) and TAY (19-26 years) published 1990-2020. Data extraction: Three authors extracted relevant data using a template and assessed bias risk using a modified JBI Critical Appraisal Tool. Results: We screened 1523 titles and abstracts, evaluated 73 full texts for eligibility, and included 28 studies. Most studies examined urine (71.4%) and hair (32.1%) samples. Self-report retrospective recall period varied from past 24 h to lifetime use. Agreement between self-report and biospecimen results were low to moderate and were higher with rapidly metabolized substances (e.g., amphetamines) and when shorter retrospective recall periods were applied. Frequently encountered sources of potential bias included use of non-validated self-report measures and failure to account for confounding factors in the association between self-reported and biospecimen-confirmed use. Limitations: Study heterogeneity prevented a quantitative meta-analysis. Studies varied in retrospective recall periods, biospecimen processing, and use of validated self-report measures. Conclusions: Associations between self-reported and biospecimen-confirmed substance use are low to moderate and are higher for shorter recall periods and for substances with rapid metabolism. Future studies should employ validated self-report measures and include demographically diverse samples.
Abstract Behavioral health services access for justice- and child welfare-involved youth is limited despite significant need. Structural interventions to address limited access are nascent. Technology can advance access, but few interventions focus on system-impacted youth and their mental health needs and challenges. This article describes the development, process, and initial outcomes of the Youth Justice and Family Well-Being Technology Collaborative (JTC) that was formed to leverage technology within and across public health and justice-related systems to promote increased behavioral health services access. Cross-system considerations are identified for public health, court, and other key stakeholders to successfully integrate technology into practice to expand access to these critical services.
Adolescents who experience symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD) are at high risk for alcohol misuse, yet little is known about why these adolescents drink and what factors heighten or mitigate this risk. The current study explores factors that may impact risk for alcohol misuse among youth with BPD symptoms: using alcohol to self-medicate or to rebel and perceived coping skills.A sample of 181 psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents (Mage = 15.04 years, SD = 1.31 years; 71.8% female, 83.4% White) was recruited as part of a larger study from the northeastern United States. Assessments and diagnostic interviews were administered to adolescents.Use of alcohol for self-medication and perceived coping skills, but not using alcohol for rebellion, moderated the relationship between BPD symptoms and alcohol misuse. A significant positive relationship between BPD symptoms and alcohol frequency and/or problems was only found among adolescents who reported lower use of alcohol for self-medication purposes or higher perceived coping skills.Youth with more BPD symptoms are at high risk for alcohol misuse. Moderation effects for self-medication motives and perceived coping skills were counter to hypotheses; lower levels of self-medication motives contributed to greater alcohol problems, as did higher levels of perceived coping skills. Results suggest the importance of assessing how much youth are drinking or experiencing consequences, as well as why they are using alcohol. It is possible adolescents with more BPD symptoms may be reporting more coping skills, but actually exhibiting the phenomenon of apparent competence (i.e., present as 'in control', but actually experiencing extreme distress and lacking sufficient coping skills); collateral reports of adolescents' coping skills may provide a more objective measure of actual skill level.What is known? Adolescents who experience symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD) are at high risk for alcohol misuse, yet little is known about why these adolescents drink and what factors heighten or mitigate this risk. What is new? Adolescents who use alcohol to self-medicate or rebel are at high risk for alcohol problems, regardless of presence of BPD symptoms. Contrary to expectations, higher perceived coping skills strengthened the relation between BPD and alcohol misuse. Apparent competence (i.e., present as 'in control' but lack sufficient skills) may be at play. What is significant for clinical practice? Clinicians are encouraged to assess why adolescents are using alcohol and teach alternative coping strategies when self-medication and/or rebellion is an identified use. Clinicians are encouraged to collect collateral reports of adolescent's coping abilities rather than relying solely on self-report.
Suicidal behavior occurs at much higher rates in correctional facilities than in the community, yet little is known about factors that distinguish inmates at risk for attempting versus dying by suicide. Individuals in the current study included 925 inmates housed in 2 large U.S. jails and 8 state correctional systems who attempted (79.5%) or died by (20.5%) suicide for whom archival data were available. Mental health professionals completed a tracking sheet after suicide-related incidents, documenting inmate psychological, diagnostic, and treatment related risk factors. Differences between inmates who attempt versus those who die by suicide indicate that when mental health staff are aware of inmates' current and historical risk factors, deaths by suicide are less likely to occur. (PsycINFO Database Record
Incarcerated youth commonly present with emotion dysregulation, aggression, and comorbid psychiatric disorders, yet often do not receive necessary mental health treatment while confined. It is therefore crucial to expand the evidence base regarding empirically supported mental health interventions which are feasible to implement in secure settings to address incarcerated youth's mental health needs. Through a community-academic partnership, the current pilot study evaluated a comprehensive Dialectical Behavior Therapy program implemented in a juvenile correctional treatment center.
Justice-involved youth with clinically significant co-occurring psychiatric and substance-related problems are at increased risk for recidivism. Less is known about how psychiatric symptoms (i.e., internalizing and externalizing) and substance-related problems (i.e., alcohol and cannabis) interact to predict recidivism, especially at first court contact. Among 361 first-time justice-involved youth aged 12 to 18, we used nested multivariate negative binomial regression models to examine the association between psychiatric symptoms, substance-related problems and 24-month recidivism while accounting for demographic and legal covariates. Clinically significant externalizing symptoms and alcohol-related problems predicted recidivism. Moderation analyses revealed that alcohol-related problems drove recidivism for youth without clinically significant psychiatric symptoms and externalizing symptoms predicted recidivism, regardless of alcohol-related problems. After accounting for other predictors, Latinx, Black non-Latinx, and multiracial non-Latinx youth were more likely to recidivate at follow-up than White non-Latinx youth. Systematic screening, referral, and linkage to treatment for psychiatric and substance-related problems are needed to reduce recidivism risk among first-time justice-involved youth. Differences in recidivism rates by race/ethnicity not attributable to behavioral health needs suggest it is imperative to concurrently deploy large-scale structural interventions designed to combat systemic racial bias and overrepresentation of ethnoracial minoritized youth within the juvenile justice system.
Progress in clinical science, theory, and practice requires the integration of advances from multiple fields of psychology, but much integration remains to be done. The current article seeks to address the specific gap that exists between basic social psychological theories and the implementation of related therapeutic techniques. We propose several "wise additions," based upon the principles outlined by Walton (2014), intended to bridge current social psychological research with clinical psychological therapeutic practice using cognitive behavioral therapy as an example. We consider how recent advances in social psychological theories can inform the development and implementation of wise additions in clinical case conceptualization and interventions. We specifically focus on self and identity, self-affirmation, transference, social identity, and embodied cognition, five dominant areas of interest in the field that have clear clinical applications.
