Does Facility Type Matter? Psychological Distress in Jails Versus Prisons

Incarcerated individuals in the U.S. experience psychological distress at higher rates than the general population. The population served, length of stay, and treatment resources available vary greatly among jails and prisons, yet little is known about how psychological distress symptom severity experienced by individuals detained in jails compares to those in prison. The present study addresses this gap using data from the National Inmate Survey, 2011–2012 to generate comparative samples. Selection bias was reduced via propensity score matching and multiple linear regression was conducted using the matched sample to address the research questions. Regression results (a) showed that survey respondents detained in jail are more likely to report high levels of psychological distress than those incarcerated in prison, and (b) identified the effect of individual- and facility-level factors on psychological distress symptom severity. The implications for policy makers and correctional facility administrators seeking to address psychological distress prevalence are discussed, along with suggestions for future research.