NCJ Number
112174
Date Published
1988
Length
249 pages
Annotation
A comparison was conducted of 83 male misdemeanants and 83 male control patients discharged from New York State mental health facilities in 1983.
Abstract
The comparison examined differences in patient profiles for the two groups and the effects of differential mental health processing of each group on the course of hospitalization and treatment. Compared to other civil patients, misdemeanants were more likely to be male and black. Although age was not itself a distinguishing attribute, among black males, there was a tendency for those under 30 to be concentrated in the misdemeanant group. Misdemeanants also were more likely to be homeless and to have no source of income. While the typical patient was diagnosed as schizophrenic for both groups, civil patients were more likely to be diagnosed as having an affective disorder. Compared to misdemeanants, civil patients tended to be in worse condition before admission, show poorer adjustment during hospitalization, be more compliant, have families available, and have higher incomes after discharge. The most striking finding was the significantly longer stays of misdemeanants relative to civil patients: mean lengths of stay was 261 days for misdemeanants versus 107 days for controls. Results are discussed with reference to the career model entailed by the labeling theory approach to the study of deviance. Supplemental data are appended. 34 tables, chapter footnotes, and approximately 180 references.