Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 19, Issue 3, 2017, Pages 674-685

Offending Behavior, Drug Use, and Mental Health Among Foreign-Born versus U.S. Born Latino Criminal Justice Clients (Article)

Ibañez G.E.* , Agudo M. , Martin S.S. , O’Connell D.J. , Auf R. , Sheehan D.M.
  • a Department of Epidemiology, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States, Department of Epidemiology, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, AHC-5, Room 478, Miami, FL 33199, United States
  • b Center for Drug and Health Studies, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
  • c Center for Drug and Health Studies, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
  • d Center for Drug and Health Studies, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
  • e Department of Epidemiology, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States
  • f Department of Epidemiology, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, United States

Abstract

Little is known about the offending behavior and recidivism factors of Latinos by nativity (U.S. born, foreign-born). The present study focused on Latinos in community corrections (n = 201) in Miami, Florida, and examined differences in criminal activity, drug use, and mental health by nativity. Data were collected utilizing convenience sampling between June 2014 and December 2015. The research question was: what are the offending, drug use, and mental health histories of Latinos involved in community corrections? Participants were mostly male (n = 120; 59.7%), White (n = 105; 52.2%), and Cuban (n = 97; 48.3%). U.S. born community corrections clients (n = 141) were more likely to report more lifetime and recent criminal activity; and more likely to report lifetime and recent drug use behavior than foreign-born Latinos (n = 60). No differences were found in recent mental health. Correctional healthcare should tailor services such as substance abuse treatment differently toward U.S. born and foreign-born Latinos. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Hispanic Latino Criminal justice U.S. born Foreign-born

Index Keywords

offender mental health human epidemiology middle aged statistics and numerical data Substance-Related Disorders drug dependence ethnology Hispanic Americans Cross-Sectional Studies United States Young Adult Florida cross-sectional study migrant psychology Hispanic Adolescent Humans male Emigrants and Immigrants female Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics prevalence adult sex factor Sex Factors Criminals
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85007415515&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-016-0542-8&partnerID=40&md5=cc07ce6487410f9a022289b426e70258
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-016-0542-8
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English