Brian D. Graves

Criminal legal-involved individuals on probation or parole face complex and multifaceted challenges associated with community reentry, including mental disorders, substance use disorders, and collateral consequences of criminal legal system involvement. Forensic peer support (FPS) has emerged as a promising strategy for reentry support. Key objectives of FPS target common reentry hardships, especially behavioral health, and previous studies have identified positive outcomes. However, few studies have compared outcomes among groups that share demographic and other salient characteristics but differ in FPS receipt. Using propensity score matching on sociodemographic, criminal legal, and behavioral health characteristics, the authors examined differences in criminal legal- and substance use-related outcomes between propensity score-matched groups of FPS recipients and nonrecipients (N=150) in Georgia to assess FPS outcomes. Receipt of FPS was associated with significantly lower rates of reconvictions (60.0% for recipients vs. 81.3% for nonrecipients) but was also associated with significantly increased positive drug screens among FPS recipients (mean±SD=23.6 ± 72.4), compared with nonrecipients (mean=4.7 ± 24.1). FPS recipients tended to have higher reincarceration rates and lower probation or parole revocations, but these differences were not statistically significant. These results indicate mixed support for FPS services, contrasting findings of previous studies. Future research may address the specific needs of heterogeneous criminal legal-involved subgroups as well as assess direct linkages of FPS to criminal legal and recovery outcomes.

The U.S. leads the world in incarceration, and individuals with incarceration histories have poorer health outcomes. Inflammation has been proposed as a mechanism linking incarceration and chronic disease, but empirical evidence remains limited. This study tested whether inflammation mediates the association between incarceration and chronic health conditions. Data were drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). Incarceration history was assessed via self-report of spending ≥3 consecutive days in jail or prison. Inflammation was measured using C-reactive protein (CRP). Chronic health conditions were assessed as both an index of six diagnoses (heart disease, hypertension, lung disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke) and individual conditions. Regression-based mediation models with bootstrapping were used to examine indirect effects of incarceration through CRP, adjusting for demographic and health behavior covariates. Analyses accounted for the HRS complex survey design. Participant history of incarceration associated with higher CRP and higher CRP associated with more chronic conditions. Bootstrapping confirmed significant mediation. Further testing indicated that cancer, stroke, and lung disease may be main drivers of this effect. Findings suggest incarceration associates with chronic disease risk partly through elevated inflammation. While direct effects between incarceration and specific health conditions were inconsistent, the association between incarceration and CRP highlights inflammation as a plausible indirect pathway. Incarceration may increase the risk for multiple chronic health conditions by elevating inflammation, particularly the risk of cancer, stroke, and lung disease. Addressing carceral healthcare quality and strengthening community supports are critical roles for health professionals and social workers.

Background: Recent changes in cannabis potency, prevalence, and recreational policies have notable implications for those with cannabis use disorder (CUD) needing treatment. However, many individuals with CUD do not receive treatment and little is known about consistent correlates of CUD treatment and reasons for not receiving treatment. Objectives: This study used national data to examine predictors of receiving CUD treatment and reasons for not receiving treatment at three time points across sixteen years. Data came from 2003, 2011, and 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health datasets on individuals who met diagnostic criteria for CUD. Multivariate logistic regression models examined predictors of receiving CUD treatment compared to those who did not receive treatment. Results: Across timepoints, CUD treatment utilization decreased and most individuals with CUD did not receive treatment. Reasons for not receiving treatment varied, but results suggest people increasingly do not know where to access treatment or are not ready to stop use, could not afford treatment, and perceive stigma or occupational impact. Consistent predictors include receiving past-year mental health treatment and community supervision involvement. Hispanic individuals had significantly lower odds of CUD treatment compared to non-Hispanic White individuals in 2003, but not later years. Prior arrest was not significant in 2003 but was associated with 2-3 times higher odds of receiving CUD treatment in later years. Conclusions: CUD treatment is often overlooked compared to other substance use disorders. Dynamic treatment barriers and predictors of CUD treatment may highlight areas for targeted improvement of CUD treatment utilization.

Substance use among criminal justice-involved adults is a significant concern for the rehabilitation and reintegration into their communities. Few have examined broader associations with substance use among those in probation or parole (community supervision) using an assessment of risks and needs with a representative sample. Using an assessment based on risk-need-responsivity principles, this research applies negative binomial analyses to examine sociodemographic, criminal, and other problem-area correlates of substance use risks and needs among a statewide dataset of adults in community supervision. Results indicated that mental health risk/need was the strongest predictor of substance use risk/need. Other risk areas, including criminal thinking, employment/education, and the presence of delinquent associates (peers/family) were associated with substance use. Implications highlight the ongoing call to develop integrated models of care that treat co-occurring disorders among adults in supervision. Additionally, diversion-oriented efforts that prevent adults with complex treatment needs from reentering the justice system are discussed.

Purpose of Review Policy implications from changes in recreational cannabis laws (RCLs) have raised public health concerns. While numerous studies have examined the impact of RCLs on cannabis use, there is less research on the risk of developing cannabis use disorder (CUD). This review summarizes the latest research on the effects of RCLs on CUD prevalence and cannabis treatment admissions. Recent Findings Nine studies were published between 2016 – 2022 that examined RCLs and CUD or treatment. Findings generally indicate an increase in CUD prevalence associated with legalization, but effects differ by age group. There was no significant association between legalization and CUD treatment admissions, and CUD admissions decreased overall during the study periods. Summary To improve policy, prevention, and treatment services, policymakers should monitor RCLs’ effects on adverse public health outcomes and researchers should consider the effects on individual and community-level characteristics. We discuss methodological challenges in conducting state-level research and provide suggestions for future studies.

Adults in community supervision (i.e., probation or parole) face disproportionately higher rates of substance use disorders (SUDs) compared to the general population, with older adults facing heightened risks. Further, SUDs often co-occur with mental illness, yet few studies have examined co-occurring SUDs and mental illness (CODs) among adults in community supervision and how these experiences vary across the life course. This study utilized a statewide sample of all adults in community supervision between 2018 and 2019 (N = 33,079) to assess the effects of mental health on substance use risks and needs, and whether age moderates this relationship. Multilevel modeling was used to examine associations while controlling for variation across judicial circuits. Findings revealed that substance use risk and need varies across circuits, effects of mental health on substance use vary regionally, and older persons in community supervision exhibit the highest rates of COD treatment needs. Social workers may benefit from these findings, which suggest a need for increased awareness of potential co-occurring needs among older adults in supervision, and available community-based interventions to meet these needs. Research evaluating training and available resources in the delivery of care for those with CODs in supervision remains a serious need.

This article critically analyzed impactful policies and practices governing the policing of Black men historically, and investigated the role these policies played in contributing to the untimely deaths of unarmed Black men by police. The researchers examined cases of police-involved shootings as reported by the Washington Post, with a particular focus on the killing of unarmed Black men over a six-year time frame. It was found that unarmed Black men were disproportionately killed by police and this finding is consistent with prior research that has considered long-term trends in the occurrence of police killings based on race. The researchers conclude with policy recommendations at the local, state, and federal levels to help stem the crisis.