The Urban Institute's Justice Policy Center -

This study examines the differences in difficulties faced by men and women with mental health problems upon release from incarceration. Using data from the Urban Institute's Justice Policy Center, a sample of 352 men and women were used for the study, and were given pre and post-release interviews. The results find that women with a history of mental illness had a much more difficult time re-integrating into society compared to men with a history of mental illness. Based on this study, mental health is a considerable factor of successful re-entry, especially for women. The authors suggest reentry planning over a longer period of time prior to one's release, and more gender-responsive plans. Limitations for this study include a relatively small sample size coming from one state (Texas). Because of that, it is unknown if the findings can be generalized into a larger population.

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^{Keywords: Mental health, gender, prison reenter, recidivism, gender disparity, gender difference, sample, mental health courts, Urban Institute}