Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-hfldf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-01T07:03:56.777Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Community Corrections Officers’ Perspectives of the Impact of Hurricane Maria on the Participant’s Mental Health and Substance Use: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 October 2023

Graciela Vega ,
Nicole Rivera-Berríos Open the ORCID record for Nicole Rivera-Berríos [Opens in a new window] ,
Vilmary Camacho-Martínez ,
René Marty Lugo  and
Carmen Albizu-García Open the ORCID record for Carmen Albizu-García [Opens in a new window]
Graciela Vega*
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Nicole Rivera-Berríos
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Vilmary Camacho-Martínez
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
René Marty Lugo
Affiliation:
School of Public Health, University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Carmen Albizu-García
Affiliation:
Center for Evaluation and Sociomedical Research, Graduate School of Public Health, San Juan, Puerto Rico
*
Corresponding author: Graciela Vega; Email: graciela.vega@upr.edu.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective:

This study explored community supervision officers’ perceptions of the individual, community, and organizational challenges confronted by program participants after Hurricane María and their recommendations for future emergency management.

Methods:

A qualitative content analysis was conducted for nine focus group with community supervision officers in Puerto Rico. Participants were asked about their perceptions of how the mental health and drug abuse of persons on parole or probation were affected and the measures taken to address these concerns in disaster response.

Results:

Narratives expose vulnerabilities experienced by those supervised and the aggregated challenges that impact retention in health and rehabilitative services, all of which can detract from successful sentence completion. The disaster response categories call for a more adaptable approach to overseeing procedures in light of the difficulties involved and recognizing the support of the supervised population who have contributed to community initiatives.

Conclusion:

Findings will contribute to informing planning, preparedness, and responses that mitigate the adverse consequences this vulnerable population may experience when exposed to future disaster hazards. Addressing emergency preparedness in this setting provides an opportunity to enact reforms in community supervision and improve access to services needed to enable the successful reintegration of individuals into their communities.

Keywords

Public HealthHealth ServicesNatural DisastersVulnerable PopulationsEmergency Preparedness
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 17 , 2023 , e510
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Historic Disasters: Hurricanes Irma, Maria and Harvey. FEMA. Last updated July 6, 2021. Accessed September 28, 2021. https://www.fema.gov/disasters/historic Google Scholar
Zorrilla, C. The view from Puerto Rico: Hurricane Maria and its aftermath. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(19):1801-1803.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kishore, N, Marqués, D, Mahmud, A, et al. Mortality in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. N Engl J Med. 2018;379(2):162-170. doi: 10.1056/NEJMsa1803972 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Santos-Burgoa, C, Sandberg, J, Suárez, E, et al. Differential and persistent risk of excess mortality from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico: a time-series analysis. Lancet Planet Health. 2018;2(11):e478-e488. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(18)30209-2 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kaeble, D, Cowhig, M. Correctional population in US 2016. U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics. April 2018, NCJ 251211.Google Scholar
Phelps, MS. Mass probation from micro to macro: tracing the expansion and consequences of community supervision. Annual Review of Criminology. 2020;3(1):261-279. doi: 10.1146/annurev-criminol-011419-041352 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Winkelman, TNA, Phelps, MS, Mitchell, KL, et al. Physical health and disability among U.S. adults recently on community supervision. J Correct Health Care. 2020;26(2):129-137. doi: 10.1177/1078345820915920 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Brooker, C, Sirdifield, C, Marples, R. Mental health and probation: a systematic review of the literature. Forensic Sci Int Mind Law. 2020;1:100003. doi: 10.1016/j.fsiml.2019.100003 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Skeem, JL, Louden, JE. Toward evidence-based practice for probationers and parolees mandated to mental health treatment. Psychiatr Serv. 2006;57(3):333-342. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.57.3.333 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sirdifield, C, Brooker, C, Marples, R. Suicide and probation: a systematic review of the literature. Forensic Sci Int Mind Law. 2020;1:100012. doi: 10.1016/j.fsiml.2020.100012 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Flanagan, BE, Gregory, EW, Hallisey, EJ, et al. A social vulnerability index for disaster management. J Homel Secur Emerg Manag. 2011;8(1):1-22. doi: 10.2202/1547-7355.1792 Google Scholar
Raker, EJ, Lowe, SR, Arcaya, MC, et al. Twelve years later: the long-term mental health consequences of Hurricane Katrina. Soc Sci Med. 2019;242:112610. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.112610 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Benevolenza, MA, DeRigne, LA. The impact of climate change and natural disasters on vulnerable populations: a systematic review of literature. J Hum Behav Soc Environ. 2019;29(2):266-281. doi: 10.1080/10911359.2018.1527739 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hayes, K, Blashki, G, Wiseman, J, et al. Climate change and mental health: risks, impacts and priority actions. Int J Ment Health Syst. 2018;12(1):28. doi: 10.1186/s13033-018-0210-6 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cianconi, P, Betrò, S, Janiri, L. The impact of climate change on mental health: a systematic descriptive review. Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:1. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00074 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cepeda, A, Valdez, A, Kaplan, C, Hill, LE. Patterns of substance use among Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Houston, Texas. Disasters. 2010;34(2):426-446. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-7717.2009.01136.x CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Holmstrom, AJ, Adams, EA, Morash, M, et al. Supportive messages female offenders receive from probation and parole officers about substance avoidance: message perceptions and effects. Crim Justice Behav. 2017;44(11):1496-1517. doi: 10.1177/0093854817723395 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Longmate, C, Lowder, E, Givens, A, et al. Social support among people with mental illnesses on probation. Psychiatr Rehabil J. Published online June 25, 2020. doi: 10.1037/prj0000428 Google ScholarPubMed
DeMichele, M, Payne, B. Exploring probation officer styles and goals with individual, organizational, and social characteristics. Eur J Probat. 2018;10(3):232-248. doi: 10.1177/2066220318822845 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Viglione, J, Blasko, BL, Taxman, FS. Organizational factors and probation officer use of evidence-based practices: a multilevel examination. Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol. 2017;62(6):1648-1667. doi: 10.1177/0306624X16681091 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Viglione, J, Rudes, DS, Taxman, FS. Probation officer use of client-centered communication strategies in adult probation settings. J Offender Rehabil. 2017;56(1):38-60. doi: 10.1080/10509674.2016.1257534 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seiter, R, West, AD. Supervision styles in probation and parole: an analysis of activities recommended citation. J Offender Rehabil. 2003;38(2):57-75. doi: 10.1300/j076v38n02_04 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Adams, WC. Conducting semi-structured interviews. Newcomer KE, Hatry HP, Wholey JS, eds. Handbook of Practical Program Evaluation: Fourth Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; 2015:492-505. doi: 10.1002/9781119171386.ch19 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Elo, S, Kyngäs, H. The qualitative content analysis process. J Adv Nurs. 2008;62(1):107-115. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04569.x CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Berg, B. An introduction to content analysis. In: Berg, BL, ed., Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences. Allyn & Bacon; 2007:238-267.Google Scholar
Fereday, J, Muir-Cochrane, E. Demonstrating rigor using thematic analysis: a hybrid approach of inductive and deductive coding and theme development. Int J Qual Methods. 2006;5:1-11. http://www.ualberta.ca/∼iiqm/backissues/5_1/pdf/fereday.pdf CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morrow, SL. Quality and trustworthiness in qualitative research in counseling psychology. J Couns Psychol. 2005;52(2):250-260. doi: 10.1037/0022-0167.52.2.250 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frankel, A. Revoked: how probation and parole feed mass incarceration in the United States. Human Rights Watch; 2020.Google Scholar
Domingo, PS, Labid, SAC. Social stigma, stigma management among probationers and parolees of Samar, Philippines. Int J Multidiscip Approach Stud. 2016;03(6):106-117.Google Scholar
Schneider, A, McKim, W. Stigmatization among probationers. J Offender Rerhabil. 2003;19-31. doi: 10.1300/J076v38n01_03 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Klingele, C. Rethinking the use of community supervision. 2013;103(4): 1015-1069. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.2232078 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS. Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers. Final Rule. Fed Regist. 2016;81(180):63859-64044.Google Scholar
Mitchell, SG, Willet, J, Monico, LB, et al. Community correctional agents’ views of medication-assisted treatment: examining their influence on treatment referrals and community supervision practices. Subst Abus. 2016;37(1):127-133. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2015.1129389 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goldmann, E, Galea, S. Mental health consequences of disasters. Annu Rev Public Health. 2014;35:169-183. doi: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032013-182435 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
North, CS. Disaster mental health epidemiology: methodological review and interpretation of research findings. Psychiatry (New York). 2016;79(2):130-146. doi: 10.1080/00332747.2016.1155926 Google ScholarPubMed
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. State of the Climate: Global Climate Report for Annual. 2019. January, 2020. Accessed September 28, 2021. https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/201913 Google Scholar
Chandra, A, Acosta, J, Stern, S, et al. Building community resilience to disasters: a way forward to enhance national health security. RAND Corporation; 2011.CrossRefGoogle Scholar