Citation

April LM, Weinstock J. J. Forensic Sci. 2018; 63(4): 1201-1206.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University, Morrissey Hall, St. Louis, MO, 63108.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.13662

PMID

28973793

Abstract

Individuals involved with the criminal justice system have the highest prevalence of gambling disorder. Yet, this is an understudied area, especially in relation to postrelease functioning and recidivism risk. Participants (N = 100) were recruited from a local nonprofit organization and a federal probation office. Participants completed both self-report and interviewer-administered questionnaires assessing past-year and lifetime gambling behaviors and problems, legal history, health, and risk of recidivism. Past-year (8%) and lifetime (18%) rates of gambling disorder among the current sample are significantly greater than those of the general population and similar to rates found in incarcerated populations. Furthermore, 13% of individuals reported a direct relationship between their gambling and crime, and analyses revealed that increased gambling severity was a significant predictor of increased recidivism risk.

RESULTS suggest the need for screening and intervention efforts and call for policy reform among incarcerated and ex-offender populations.

© 2017 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Language: en

Keywords

forensic psychology; forensic sciences; gambling problems; prison; probation; reoffending