Offenders with Cognitive Deficits in a Canadian Prison Population: Prevalence, Profile, and Outcomes

Impaired cognitive function has been associated with criminal behavior. In Canada it is unknown the extent to which this disorder affects federal inmates or its impact on key correctional outcomes. In this study, 488 incoming male offenders were assessed on the Cognistat, a neuropsychological screening tool. 

Twenty-five percent of offenders were found to have some level of cognitive deficit. Lower levels of educational achievement, unstable employment history, learning disability, serious alcohol problems, and symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were significantly associated with the presence of cognitive deficits in this sample. 

Although there was a significant trend for offenders with cognitive deficits to have more admissions to segregation, level of cognitive deficit was not consistently related to rates of institutional charges or rates of completion of required correctional programs. On release, cognitive deficits were not related to returns to custody or returns to custody with an offence. 

These results indicate that while offenders with cognitive deficits may require assistance with educational upgrading and employment to improve their reintegration potential, they do not pose a particular management problem in the community after release relative to offenders without cognitive deficits.

Via: http://ht.ly/RTPny

By: Stewart LA1, Wilton G2, Sapers J3.

• 1Correctional Service of Canada, 340 Laurier Ave W, Ottawa ON, Canada, K1A 0P9. Electronic address: lynn.stewart@csc-scc.gc.ca.
• 2Correctional Service of Canada, 340 Laurier Ave W, Ottawa ON, Canada, K1A 0P9. Electronic address: geoff.wilton@csc-scc.gc.ca.
• 3Correctional Service of Canada, 340 Laurier Ave W, Ottawa ON, Canada, K1A 0P9.