Estimating mental health needs and service utilization among prison inmates.
H. J. Steadman, E. J. Holohean, Jr. and J. Dvoskin,
Bull. Amer. Acad. Psychiatry & the Law
19(3): 297-307, 1991.
A sample of 3,684 inmates in the New York State prison system was surveyed in May 1986 to
determine the prevalence of psychiatric and functional disability and service utilization. It was
estimated that 5 percent had a severe psychiatric disability, and 10 percent had significant psychiatric
disability. The higher the level of disability, the greater the proportion of inmates that had received
mental health services in the last 30 days and in the last year. Still, 45 percent of the severe disability
group had no service contacts in the last year. Patterns of utilization differed significantly by sex (a
greater proportion of women received services) and by race (a greater proportion of whites received
services). The clinical factors associated with receipt of services varied considerably between men
and women.