Abstract
Psychiatric evaluation of inmates shows a prevalence of psychiatric conditions among those incarcerated, raising questions about the value of early mental health screening in predicting crime. This review aims to assess the potential association between the presence of psychiatric illness and criminal behavior, along with the role of psychiatric screening in early detection and prevention. Additionally, it evaluates the effectiveness of risk assessment tools. A literature review was conducted using research databases including, yet not limited to, Scopus, PubMed, and NIH, and included primarily observational studies from 2000–2025. The data included adult and juvenile populations from multiple countries; all experimental studies were excluded. Antisocial personality disorder, bipolar disorder, conduct disorders, and ADHD were common among the prison population. A study from the Bureau of Justice showed that 56% of state prisoners, 45% of federal prisoners, and 64% of local jail inmates have mental health conditions such as mania, depression, and psychotic disorders, which suggests a link between psychiatric conditions and criminal involvement. Assessment tools such as Vanderbilt Assessment Scales, DSM-5 criteria-based questionnaires, PCL-R, and BVC can support both diagnosis and risk profiling; however, their predictive validity remains a question. Findings showed that psychiatric conditions are disproportionately prevalent among justice-involved groups, establishing a link between psychiatric vulnerability and criminal involvement. Existing literature differs on the basis of the quality of data and the criteria used for diagnosis, as well as findings from different jurisdictions. Proper and ethical usage of assessment methods as screening tools holds potential that requires validation, especially in forensic contexts like parole assessments or pretrial evaluations, and must consider both individual rights and society’s safety.
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