Individuals With Mental Illnesses on Probation: The Intersection of Trauma, Race, and Gender

Little research exists about PTSD and traumatic experiences among justice-involved individuals with mental illnesses and how those experiences differ by race and gender. We examined traumatic experiences and PTSD among 187 individuals with serious mental illnesses on probation in the United States: 94% of participants experienced a traumatic event, rates of PTSD were highest among Black women ( p < .001), and rates of sexual assault were highest among White women ( p < .001). Justice-involved individuals with mental illnesses have complex needs and an elevated risk of PTSD and exposure to traumatic events, which has implications for probation policy and practice.