The Impact of Mental Health on Recidivism: A Logistic Regression Analysis Examining Federal Probation Outcomes

Author

Stephanie Kowal, The University Of MontanaFollow

Graduation Year

2024

Graduation Month

May

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

School or Department

Sociology

Major

Sociology

Faculty Mentor Department

Sociology

Faculty Mentor

James Tuttle

Keywords

recidivism, probation, mental health

Subject Categories

Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychology | Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance | Sociology

Abstract

This research paper investigates the impact of mental health issues on probation success, utilizing secondary data from the Criminology Research Group at the University of Montana. Employing binary logistic regression analysis, the study examines various factors affecting probation outcomes, with a focus on mental health treatment as a primary independent variable. Findings reveal that individuals receiving outpatient mental health care are significantly more likely to recidivate, supporting the hypothesis that ongoing mental health struggles pose substantial barriers to probation success. Moreover, employment status, age at the start of supervision, adult criminal offenses, and days under supervision emerged as significant predictors of recidivism. These results underscore the importance of addressing mental health issues within probation systems to mitigate recidivism rates and enhance overall rehabilitation efforts.

Honors College Research Project

Yes

GLI Capstone Project

no

Recommended Citation

Kowal, Stephanie, "The Impact of Mental Health on Recidivism: A Logistic Regression Analysis Examining Federal Probation Outcomes" (2024). Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts. 495.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/utpp/495