Cynthia L. Blitz ^1*, Nancy Wolff ¹, Ko-Yu Pan ¹, Wendy Pogorzelski ¹

¹ Rutgers University

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: clblitz{at}rci.rutgers.edu.

	Abstract

Objectives: This study describes behavioral health diagnoses and community release patterns among male and female adult inmates in New Jersey (NJ) prisons and assesses their implications for correctional health care and community reentry.<BR> Methods: The study used clinical and classification data on a census of special needs inmates in NJ (N=3,189) and a census of all special needs inmates released to NJ communities over a 12-month period (N=974).<BR> Results: Virtually all adult inmates with special needs had at least one Axis I mental disorder, and 68% of these had at least one additional Axis I mental disorder, a personality disorder, or addiction problem (67% of all male and 75% of all female special needs inmates). Of those special needs inmates released, 25% returned to the most disadvantaged counties in NJ (27% of all male and 18% of all special needs female inmates).<BR> Conclusions: Two types of clustering were found: gender-specific clustering of disorders among inmates and spatial clustering of ex-offenders in impoverished communities. These suggest need for gendered treatment strategies within correctional settings and need for successful reentry strategies.

Key Words: Community Health, Mental Health, Women's Health, Substance Abuse

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