The effects of victimization on residents in prison is an understudied area within the corrections literature. To help fill this gap, we used administrative and survey data on a sample of about 1,600 residents in Minnesota's prison system to examine the relationship between being the victim of a physical attack and perceptions of safety and a culture of violence. The results showed that residents were more likely to report being attacked in prison within the previous year when they were in prison for a sex offense, were younger in age, and had more prior misconducts. Victimization was negatively associated with perceptions of personal safety while, at the same time, positively related to the extent to which residents adopted a culture of violence. Perceptions of decreased safety were also found for women, Black residents, individuals in higher custody levels, and those who reported greater difficulty sleeping. Endorsing a culture of violence was significantly more likely for men, younger residents, individuals with more mental health concerns, and those reporting more problems relating to hunger and sleep.

Correctional case management grew during the 1970s as greater need arose for strategies to manage and treat justice-involved populations in local communities. Since then, strategies and programs have emerged to provide evidence-based training for supervision officers as well as to improve the structure of case plans. Despite these developments, case planning continues to fall short of integrating core correctional practices. This article provides a content analysis of halfway house case plans to explore prevalent trends that may inhibit maximal effectiveness. To do so, this paper pulls from literature across various fields to contextualize these patterns and develop recommendations. Results highlight five themes among case plans objectives, including deviations from criminogenic needs, implementing non-evidence-based solutions, writing non-measurable objectives, underutilizing service referrals, and overutilization of shorthand for terminology. Several implications for these findings and recommendations are discussed. Broadly, results highlight the need for modified case plan structures and ongoing case manager training. The development of an agency guide for referrals would also aid case managers in managing the variety of internal and external resources. Lastly, case plans should prioritize transparency by avoiding broad, non-measurable, or jargon-filled objectives.

Individuals with co-occurring disorders are a difficult population to manage in problem-solving courts. Moreover, despite being one of the most clinically vulnerable and high-risk groups, many programs will not accept people with co-occurring disorders or are not designed to address their unique needs. As such, there is little research on those with co-occurring disorders in treatment courts. Our study adds to this limited body of research by presenting findings from one of only three U.S. Federal Mental Health Courts. Using a sample of 48 participants, we compared two diagnostic groups, mental health disorders only and co-occurring disorders on demographic, criminal history, and diagnosis variables. Comparison of the two groups showed a significantly higher proportion of older participants in the mental health disorder group but no other significant differences. Analysis of correlates related to successful graduation showed that despite more complicated clinical profiles, the co-occurring disorder group had comparable program graduation rates as the mental health disorder only group. These findings imply that the intensity of treatment and wraparound services mental health court participants accessed while under close supervision “leveled the playing field” for those with co-occurring disorders, facilitating their successful graduation from the mental health court.