Residential Instability and Suicidal Ideation Among Persons on Parole

• Published date: 01 November 2023
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X231159894
• Author: Javier F. Boyas,Pamela Valera,Leah McCoy,Jana Woodiwiss
• Date: 01 November 2023
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X231159894

International Journal of

Offender Therapy and

Comparative Criminology

2023, Vol. 67(15) 1526 –1546

© The Author(s) 2023

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DOI: 10.1177/0306624X231159894

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Article

Residential Instability and

Suicidal Ideation Among

Persons on Parole

Javier F. Boyas1, Pamela Valera2,

Leah McCoy3, and Jana Woodiwiss3

Abstract

Parolees experience numerous barriers that may impact successful reintegration into

society. Residential instability may further add to these obstacles, as there may be

limited opportunities for housing given their criminal history. The present study aimed

to examine the impact of residential instability on suicidal ideation among parolees.

Results indicated that residentially stable and unstable individuals had similar risk

factors which were significantly associated with suicidality, such as age and having

perceived unmet mental health needs. Other risk factors differed among the two

groups, highlighting the importance of treatment and preparation for re-entry into

society while in the prison setting.

Keywords

residential stability, persons on parole, suicidality

Background and Significance

In the United States (U.S.), suicide persists as an influential factor linked to premature

mortality. Although suicide was the ninth leading cause of death among all Americans

in 2020 for persons ages 10 to 64 years, it was the second-leading cause among young

people ages 10 to 14 years and adults between the ages of 25 and 34 years (Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). While suicide planning and attempts were

1Troy University, AL, USA

2Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA

3University of Georgia, Athens, USA

Corresponding Author:

Javier F. Boyas, School of Social Work and Human Services, Troy University, 211D Wright Hall, Troy,

AL, 36082, USA.

Email: jboyas@troy.edu

1159894IJOXXX10.1177/0306624X231159894International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative CriminologyBoyas et al.

research-article2023

Boyas et al. 1527

high, a large number of individuals contemplated suicide. In 2020, 12.2 million

Americans seriously thought about suicide (Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Services Administration, 2021).

There is growing evidence that suicidality disproportionately burdens marginalized

populations in the U.S., such as African American males, lesbian, gay, and bisexual

(LGB) Latinx adolescents, and people who are experiencing poverty (Boyas et al.,

2019; Houser et al., 2019; Joe et al., 2018). Suicidality also affects individuals with

criminal justice involvement, particularly those under community supervision.

Existing research across the globe and in the U.S. has documented that people on

parole are at elevated risk for suicidality (Lize et al., 2015; Mackenzie et al., 2013;

Pluck & Brooker, 2014; Spittal et al., 2014; Yu et al., 2014). One study suggests that

rates of suicide were 6.75 times higher among persons on parole relative to the general

public (Jones & Maynard, 2013). This is concerning because there are over 4.5 million

people under adult community supervision (or 1 in 55) in the U.S. (Pew Charitable

Trusts, 2018). The Coronavirus in 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has magnified the

mental health struggles experienced by many marginalized groups, including persons

on parole.

Annually, correctional facilities in the U.S. release roughly 600,000 people per year

into the community (Dumont et al., 2012). This number may increase because of dein-

carceration strategies to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in correctional settings,

which has become an important first step to depopulate overcrowded prisons (Sharma

et al., 2020). Upon prison release, many people on parole struggle to find stability dur-

ing community reintegration (Valera et al., 2017). Persons on parole often face many

uncertainties and struggles that can lead to a higher risk of mental health challenges,

drug overdose, and suicidality (Binswanger et al., 2007, 2020; Yu et al., 2014). Well-

established correlates of unsuccessful reintegration and suicidality among persons on

parole include their struggles with securing employment (Herbert et al., 2015), physi-

cal and mental health (Travis & Petersilia, 2001; Visher & Mallik-Kane, 2007), sub-

stance use (Grella et al., 2021), and social and community supports (Binswanger et al.,

2013; Valera & Boyas, 2019).

However, one of the most overlooked predictors of suicidality for persons on parole

is the impact of residential instability. For this study, residential instability is opera-

tionalized as a higher frequency of moves occurring over a short period (Leventhal &

Newman, 2010). It is hypothesized that the longer a person stays in one place, the

more stable is their housing (Frederick et al., 2014). Housing is not only a physical

place; it is also a foundational space that apprises physical and psychological wellbe-

ing (D’Alessandro & Appolloni, 2020). Stable housing also symbolizes an opportunity

for people on parole to forge and foster social ties with individuals in their communi-

ties and better integrate themselves into their communities (Barkan et al., 2013).

Parole administrators indicate that securing stable housing is the most pressing issue

facing people on parole (Herbert et al., 2015; Petersilia, 2003). Furthermore, the lack

of safe and secure housing and homelessness have been identified as barriers in access-

ing other necessary resources, including employment, social support systems, and

mental health services (Geller & Curtis, 2011; Pleggenkuhle et al., 2016). For