Traumatic Brain Injury in Prisoners

A sample of 1000 consecutively admitted offenders in a midwestern state prison system were screened for incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and symptomatology of TBI using an interview format previously found to identify residents with high rates of prison disciplinary rule infraction. Of the 1000 offenders interviewed, 249 (24.9%) reported receiving at least one traumatic head injury. Percentage of prisoners reporting head trauma who experience loss of consciousness and residual head injury symptoms were also investigated. The findings are discussed and future research is suggested.