Alina Perez completes dissertation in the School of Psychology

Evaluating Factors in Jail Recidivism for Mentally Ill Offenders in Jail Diversion Programs: Self-Efficacy, Criminogenic Factors, and Stages of Change  -- Alina Perez

Alina currently works at Alliance for Psychological Services as a Mentally-Disordered Sex Offender Treatment Counselor. She also teaches graduate and undergraduate psychology and forensic psychology courses at a few universities as an Adjunct Faculty (Argosy University, Ashford University, Boston University, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, University of Liverpool, and Columbia Southern University).

Abstract:
This study aimed at determining factors that distinguish mentally ill recidivists in a jail diversion program from mentally ill non recidivists in the same program. Initial study hypotheses predicted recidivists would exhibit a higher incidence of criminogenic factors and lower self-efficacy when compared to non recidivists. Additionally, recidivists were expected to be in early stages of change. However, findings did not confirm such hypotheses. Nevertheless, there were some small notable differences between recidivists and non recidivists of a jail diversion program. Results of this study can assist jail diversion programs when targeting services.