Recidivism in Switzerland: the influence of custodial sanctions.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: Although many studies have investigated the influence of personal characteristics on recidivism, knowledge about the impact of correctional policies remains limited. The present study adds to this debate by investigating the effect of the dualistic system of custodial sanctions in Switzerland over time. Specifically, we: (1) tested the influence that different types of custodial sanctions – sentences (offering regular prison treatment) and measures (offering crime-related rehabilitation programmes) – have on reconviction rates; and (2) forecasted future reconviction rates to estimate their value in the year 2020. METHODS: National level data from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office were collected, including 3-year reconviction rates after release from custody and the number of persons serving custodial sentences and measures. A time series framework was used for the analyses, which included data available from 1988 to 2013 (n = 26 years). RESULTS: The number of persons serving custodial sentences had no effect on recidivism (p = 0.582); however, a higher number of persons serving custodial measures was significantly associated with a decrease in recidivism (p = 0.003). For the year 2020, a reconviction rate of 28% (range 23–33%) was predicted. CONCLUSIONS: Custodial measures seem to be associated with a reduction in recidivism. However, owing to the indeterminate time associated with some custodial measures, often at the cost of the prisoners’ rights and the criminal justice system, future studies are needed to determine the optimal serving time for custodial measures.

COVID-19 Inmate Risk Appraisal (CIRA): development and validation of a screening tool to assess COVID-19 vulnerability in prisons.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate a screening tool designed to identify detained people at increased risk for COVID-19 mortality, the COVID-19 Inmate Risk Appraisal (CIRA). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with a representative sample (development) and a case-control sample (validation). SETTING: The two largest Swiss prisons. PARTICIPANTS: (1) Development sample: all male persons detained in Pöschwies, Zurich (n = 365); (2) Validation sample: case-control sample of male persons detained in Champ-Dollon, Geneva (n = 192, matching 1:3 for participants at risk for severe course of COVID-19 and participants without risk factors). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The CIRA combined seven risk factors identified by the World Health Organization and the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health as predictive of severe COVID-19 to derive an absolute risk increase in mortality rate: Age ≥60 years, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, chronic respiratory disease, immunodeficiency and cancer. RESULTS: Based on the development sample, we proposed a three-level classification: average (<3.7), elevated (3.7-5.7) and high (>5.7) risk. In the validation sample, the CIRA identified all individuals identified as vulnerable by national recommendations (having at least one risk factor). The category "elevated risk" maximised sensitivity (1) and specificity (0.97). The CIRA had even higher capacity in discriminating individuals vulnerable according to clinical evaluation (a four-level risk categorisation based on a consensus of medical staff). The category "elevated risk" maximised sensitivity and specificity (both 1). When considering the individuals classified as extremely high risk by medical staff, the category "high risk" had a high discriminatory capacity (sensitivity =0.89, specificity =0.97). CONCLUSIONS: The CIRA scores have a high discriminative ability and will be important in custodial settings to support decisions and prioritise actions using a standardised valid assessment method. However, as knowledge on risk factors for COVID-19 mortality is still limited, the CIRA may be considered preliminary. Underlying data will be updated regularly on the website (http://www.prison-research.com), where the CIRA algorithm is freely available.

Agressividade, estilo de vida criminal e adaptação à prisão / Aggressiveness, criminal lifestyle and prison adjustment / Agressivité, style de vie criminel et adaptation à la prison / Agresividad, estilo de vida criminal y adaptación a la prisión

O estudo da adaptação à prisão e a classificação dos reclusos pode ajudar a prevenir situações de risco e promover um tratamento penitenciário mais efetivo. Este estudo correlacional explora a relação entre a agressividade, o estilo de vida criminal e a adaptação à prisão, incluindo variáveis sociodemográficas e jurídico-penais. A agressividade é medida pelo Aggression Questionnaire e o estilo de vida criminal pelo Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form. A adaptação à prisão inclui dois indicadores: processos disciplinares e acessos aos serviços clínicos. A amostra é constituída por trinta e um participantes do sexo masculino e nacionalidade portuguesa, detidos num Estabelecimento Prisional Regional. O período de observação teve a duração de cinco meses. Os resultados indicam que a agressividade, a história de consumo de drogas e as penas de menor duração predizem pior adaptação à prisão. Conclui-se que o Aggression Questionnaire se associa aos processos disciplinares e aos acessos aos serviços clínicos.(AU)

The study of inmates´ adjustment to prison and prison classification may help to prevent risky situations and promote a more effective institutional treatment. This correlational study explores the relation between aggressiveness, criminal lifestyle, and adjustment to prison, attending also to socio-demographic and penal variables. Aggressiveness was measured through the Aggression Questionnaire and the Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form-Revised assessed the criminal lifestyle. Prison adjustment includes two indicators: infraction reports and accesses to the clinical services. A sample of thirty-one Portuguese male prisoners from a local prison was assessed during an observation period of five months. Results show that aggressiveness, drug history, and shorter sentences predict a poor adjustment. The scores on Aggression Questionnaire are associated with both infractions reports and accesses to the clinical services.(AU)

Les études sur l´adaptation à la prison et la classification des détenus peuvent aider à prévenir des situations de risque et promouvoir un traitement pénitentiaire plus efficient. Cette recherche corrélationnelle explore la relation entre l'agressivité, le style de vie criminel et l'adaptation à la prison, incluant des variables socio-démographiques et juridico-pénales. L'agressivité est mesurée par l´Agression Questionnaire et le style de vie criminelle par le Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form. L'adaptation à la prison comprend deux indicateurs: les procédures disciplinaires et les accès aux services cliniques. L'échantillon se compose de trente et un participants du sexe masculin et de nationalité portugaise, incarcéré dans une prison régionale et observé durant une période de cinq mois. Les résultats indiquent que l'agressivité, l'histoire d´usage de drogues et les peines plus courtes prédisent une mauvaise adaptation à la prison et que l´Agression Questionnaire est associé aux procédures disciplinaires et aux accès aux services cliniques.(AU)

El estudio de la adaptación a la prisión y la clasificación de los reclusos pueden ayudar a prevenir situaciones de riesgo y promover un tratamiento penitenciario más adecuado. Este estudio correlacional explora la relación entre la agresividad, el estilo de vida criminal y la adaptación a la prisión, incluyendo datos socio-demográficos y jurídico-penales. La agresividad es medida por el Aggression Questionnaire y lo estilo de vida criminal por el Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form. La adaptación a la prisión incluye dos indicadores: los procedimientos disciplinarios y los accesos a los servicios clínicos. La muestra consta de treinta y uno participantes del sexo masculino y nacionalidad portuguesa, detenidos en una prisión regional. El periodo de observación fue de cinco meses. Los resultados indican que la agresividad, la historia del consumo de drogas y condenas más cortas predicen peor adaptación a la cárcel. Además se verifica que los scores Aggression Questionnaire se asocian con los procedimientos disciplinarios y el acceso a los servicios clínicos.(AU)

Agressividade, estilo de vida criminal e adaptação à prisão / Aggressiveness, criminal lifestyle and prison adjustment / Agressivité, style de vie criminel et adaptation à la prison / Agresividad, estilo de vida criminal y adaptación a la prisión

O estudo da adaptação à prisão e a classificação dos reclusos pode ajudar a prevenir situações de risco e promover um tratamento penitenciário mais efetivo. Este estudo correlacional explora a relação entre a agressividade, o estilo de vida criminal e a adaptação à prisão, incluindo variáveis sociodemográficas e jurídico-penais. A agressividade é medida pelo Aggression Questionnaire e o estilo de vida criminal pelo Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form. A adaptação à prisão inclui dois indicadores: processos disciplinares e acessos aos serviços clínicos. A amostra é constituída por trinta e um participantes do sexo masculino e nacionalidade portuguesa, detidos num Estabelecimento Prisional Regional. O período de observação teve a duração de cinco meses. Os resultados indicam que a agressividade, a história de consumo de drogas e as penas de menor duração predizem pior adaptação à prisão. Conclui-se que o Aggression Questionnaire se associa aos processos disciplinares e aos acessos aos serviços clínicos.

The study of inmates´ adjustment to prison and prison classification may help to prevent risky situations and promote a more effective institutional treatment. This correlational study explores the relation between aggressiveness, criminal lifestyle, and adjustment to prison, attending also to socio-demographic and penal variables. Aggressiveness was measured through the Aggression Questionnaire and the Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form-Revised assessed the criminal lifestyle. Prison adjustment includes two indicators: infraction reports and accesses to the clinical services. A sample of thirty-one Portuguese male prisoners from a local prison was assessed during an observation period of five months. Results show that aggressiveness, drug history, and shorter sentences predict a poor adjustment. The scores on Aggression Questionnaire are associated with both infractions reports and accesses to the clinical services.

Les études sur l´adaptation à la prison et la classification des détenus peuvent aider à prévenir des situations de risque et promouvoir un traitement pénitentiaire plus efficient. Cette recherche corrélationnelle explore la relation entre l'agressivité, le style de vie criminel et l'adaptation à la prison, incluant des variables socio-démographiques et juridico-pénales. L'agressivité est mesurée par l´Agression Questionnaire et le style de vie criminelle par le Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form. L'adaptation à la prison comprend deux indicateurs: les procédures disciplinaires et les accès aux services cliniques. L'échantillon se compose de trente et un participants du sexe masculin et de nationalité portugaise, incarcéré dans une prison régionale et observé durant une période de cinq mois. Les résultats indiquent que l'agressivité, l'histoire d´usage de drogues et les peines plus courtes prédisent une mauvaise adaptation à la prison et que l´Agression Questionnaire est associé aux procédures disciplinaires et aux accès aux services cliniques.

El estudio de la adaptación a la prisión y la clasificación de los reclusos pueden ayudar a prevenir situaciones de riesgo y promover un tratamiento penitenciario más adecuado. Este estudio correlacional explora la relación entre la agresividad, el estilo de vida criminal y la adaptación a la prisión, incluyendo datos socio-demográficos y jurídico-penales. La agresividad es medida por el Aggression Questionnaire y lo estilo de vida criminal por el Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form. La adaptación a la prisión incluye dos indicadores: los procedimientos disciplinarios y los accesos a los servicios clínicos. La muestra consta de treinta y uno participantes del sexo masculino y nacionalidad portuguesa, detenidos en una prisión regional. El periodo de observación fue de cinco meses. Los resultados indican que la agresividad, la historia del consumo de drogas y condenas más cortas predicen peor adaptación a la cárcel. Además se verifica que los scores Aggression Questionnaire se asocian con los procedimientos disciplinarios y el acceso a los servicios clínicos.