Aging With Mental Disorders in the Criminal Justice System

Aging With Mental Disorders in the Criminal Justice System

Review of Journal Article

Bibliography

Maschi, T., & Dasarathy, D. (2019). Aging With Mental Disorders in the Criminal Justice System: A Content Analysis of the Empirical Literature. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 63(12), 2103-2137.

Problem

Research examining the mental health of persons in the criminal justice system, specifically older adults, has been conducted for the past 40 years. However, a systematic assessment still lacks from existing studies. The assessments do not touch on the factors in the society that determine the mental health of older adults involved in criminal justice.

Comments: The problem statement is in congruence with the title of the article. It shows the reader that the authors have conducted an analysis of the existing empirical literature on mental illness among older people in the criminal justice system. They explicitly state that the assessment was done using research from the past 40 years. The statement further sought to enlighten the reader about an existing gap in the literature. However, when it comes to an average reader, the statement is not easily understood.

Review of Literature

By reading the abstract, it is clear that the authors had reviewed several works of literature in their work. They state that they analyzed the content of numerous international peer-reviewed studies totaling 44. Besides, extensive referencing of some literature aided in arriving at the findings and formulating the problem statement.

Hypothesis

The hypotheses revolved around the mutual existence between social determinants, the consequences, and mental illness. The result is an improvement or development on the efforts that seek to prevent, assess, and intervene in the case of older adults in the criminal justice system.

Comments: Concerning the purpose of the hypothesis, it was not articulated in a manner that is easily understood by an average reader. It also only resonates with the ability of the authors to use resources at their disposal. Nonetheless, it agrees with the title of the article. It is essential in such an approach to developing the most fundamental research questions that need answers (Forrester & Hopkin, 2019, p. xx).

Objectives

The first objective is to find out what is reported by peer-reviewed literature on older adults involved in the criminal justice system based on social determinants about mental health. Secondly, the study aims to comprehensively assess the methods used in past studies to improve future studies. Lastly, it also aims at aiding in the advancement of epidemiological research, policy, and practice.

Comment: One can answer the objectives that the authors relied upon in the article based on the findings.

Methodology

The study involved analyzing peer-reviewed articles from different journals. First, the EBSCO-HOST database was used to locate sample articles on the criminal justice system that touched on older adults concerning social determinants of their mental health. Then using all databases, including PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and Sociolit, a literature search was done comprehensively using keywords. Also, to identify articles not found electronically, two members of the research team resorted to conducting a manual search in lists of article references. Using established inclusion criteria, only 44 articles were included in the study. Lastly, the study took the deductive and inductive approaches to content analysis.

Comment: The methods used clearly aided in forming the foundation of the stud. Both online and offline databases were examined. In addition, the criteria for the inclusion or exclusion of peer reviewed articles is adequately explained using aspects provided for by the different articles. The content analysis method used also helped in coming up with the statistical data provided for in the article.

Findings

Findings on age, size of sample, race/ethnicity, and gender was provided for in Table 2. Table 3 provided for how frequent diagnoses on mental health was done across the different studies on the aging in relation to different sectors of the criminal justice system such as prisons. As for Table 4, it provided for the ratio in percentage of the study participants based on legal and psychosocial history. Table 5 provides findings on methods used by the studies in examining social determinants. Lastly, Table 6 provides an overview of the primary findings of the study.

The authors went to the extent of explaining the contents of the tables. For instance, there was a variance on the setting of criminal justice system based on the studies in relation to examination of mental health among the aging. It was also found that common mental disorders were absent among the general criminal justice population as opposed to the aging. For instance, the percentage of major Depression Disorder among older adults in the prison system was high. Lastly, social determinants influenced the mental health of the aging. Findings on the detection of mental illness on the aging in prison state that those found with serious illnesses were mostly offered a means of psychiatric care.

Comments: The findings resonate answer the research questions and meet the objectives set for the study.

Summary

The study provides a summary of the findings. Although the summary covers all the findings of the study, it is not concise but tends to offer a summarized explanation of the findings.

Conclusions

In providing conclusions, the authors have used implications. First, mental illness is prevalent not just during incarceration but also prior to incarceration for the aging. However, the study also concludes that mental health also becomes worse in prison. Secondly, a community wide approach is necessary in determining the correlation and consequences of the social determinants of mental illness. Lastly, there is need for comprehensive assessment in mental health among the aging in the criminal justice system.

Comments: The conclusions emanate from the findings and provide an understanding on the purpose for which the study was taken.

Recommendations

The study recommends the direction future research should take. They should use comprehensive variables in the study of mental health because of their importance in determining placements in prisons or communities. Consequently, the studies should be rigorous when it comes to methodology.

Comments: The recommendations refer to future research which means the article is not conclusive but meant to open up an area on criminal justice for discourse.

Conclusion

The authors have adequately answered their research question. In so doing, they have highlighted the have improved on how to assess and intervene in mental health cases involving older adults in the criminal justice system including prison. Through the conduct of future studies that factor in social determinants when it comes to mental health among older adults, there is a notable development in the system.