Factors Associated With Postrelease Healthcare and Justice Contact Among Prison Entrants in New South Wales

The difficulties associated with transitioning from prison to the community are well-known, particularly for those with mental illness. Individuals released from prison are high users of public health services, and particularly emergency healthcare, perhaps reflecting poor access to stabilizing or preventative care. This study reports the outpatient, emergency and inpatient health contacts of a sample of men and women recruited from prison reception in New South Wales (NSW), in the 12 months postrelease. Differences in health service utilization by gender, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander status and the presence of serious mental illness were examined, along with the relationship between health service utilization and reoffending. A high rate of postrelease health service use and repeated contact with the criminal justice system was identified, with findings particularly pronounced for those identified at prison entry as having serious mental illness. An association was found between accessing emergency services and subsequently being charged with a reoffence, whereas accessing outpatient mental health services had no impact on subsequent reoffending risk. An increased focus on achieving continuity of mental healthcare between prison and the community is required to reduce the burden on public healthcare and correctional systems in NSW.