Psychiatric History & Arrest Risk
Two articles published yesterday look at the relationship between arrest records and psychiatric problems in young adults. Copeland et al (2007) followed 1,420 adolescents in North Carolina from psychiatric intake at age 9-13 through age 21. Davis et al (2007) followed 1,519 teens in Massachusetts DMH care from age 15-20 through age 25.
Both studies found high arrest rates in these cohorts. Davis found that 69% of the males and 46% of the females in her group were arrested at least once by age 25. Copeland found 42.8% of males vs. 19.6% of females were arrested, but only tracked through age 21. Davis reported that there was no gender difference in risk of first arrest by age 18. Copeland found that the type of crime varied significantly by gender, with males being far more likely to be involved in a violent crime vs. a property or drug crime, which made up the vast majority of female arrests. Davis' results also found that the crimes males were arrested for tended to be more severe. The women in Davis' sample were more likely to have multiple arrests.
I have never been arrested, or even detained. I am, and always have been, extremely avoidant of conflict, and pretty much terrified of police. My risk-taking behaviors have been pretty restrained. For most of my life, this was simply a fear of the amorphous concept of "getting in trouble", and the specific fear of people being angry with me. Hell, I'm still not good at dealing with the latter. However, for the past five years, I've had a very deep seated fear of arrest which has actually stopped me from doing things I might otherwise have done, like go to demonstrations where I think police response is likely. Basically, the criminal justice system has not inspired me with any confidence as to their ability to handle transsexuals safely, and the risk level is unacceptable to me. Sometimes it bothers me how frightened I am of this. Mostly, I think I'm being entirely reasonable.
Similarly, I've always been afraid to seek psychiatric help, because I haven't been impressed with those institutions either. Granted, I haven't felt like I've needed it in several years; probably not since I transitioned, now that I think about it. Maybe I just have a deep-seated distrust of institutional care. Again, I think that's reasonable.
Both studies found high arrest rates in these cohorts. Davis found that 69% of the males and 46% of the females in her group were arrested at least once by age 25. Copeland found 42.8% of males vs. 19.6% of females were arrested, but only tracked through age 21. Davis reported that there was no gender difference in risk of first arrest by age 18. Copeland found that the type of crime varied significantly by gender, with males being far more likely to be involved in a violent crime vs. a property or drug crime, which made up the vast majority of female arrests. Davis' results also found that the crimes males were arrested for tended to be more severe. The women in Davis' sample were more likely to have multiple arrests.
I have never been arrested, or even detained. I am, and always have been, extremely avoidant of conflict, and pretty much terrified of police. My risk-taking behaviors have been pretty restrained. For most of my life, this was simply a fear of the amorphous concept of "getting in trouble", and the specific fear of people being angry with me. Hell, I'm still not good at dealing with the latter. However, for the past five years, I've had a very deep seated fear of arrest which has actually stopped me from doing things I might otherwise have done, like go to demonstrations where I think police response is likely. Basically, the criminal justice system has not inspired me with any confidence as to their ability to handle transsexuals safely, and the risk level is unacceptable to me. Sometimes it bothers me how frightened I am of this. Mostly, I think I'm being entirely reasonable.
Similarly, I've always been afraid to seek psychiatric help, because I haven't been impressed with those institutions either. Granted, I haven't felt like I've needed it in several years; probably not since I transitioned, now that I think about it. Maybe I just have a deep-seated distrust of institutional care. Again, I think that's reasonable.