South Carolina (Adult Women & Men Corrections): TBI Screening

System Group

Adult Male & Female Corrections

Individuals scheduled to be released.

Individuals with life-or-death sentences

(Bogner, Corrigan, Ferguson, Pickelsimer, & Wald, 2012)

Location

South Carolina Department of Correctional Prisons

Purpose/Goal

To determine lifetime prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a statewide sample of prisoners. (Bogner, Corrigan, Ferguson, Pickelsimer, & Wald, 2012)

What tool was used?

Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Identification Method (OSU TBI-ID)

When is screening done?

Information Unavailable

What happens after screening?

Information Unavailable

Who Conducted Screening?

Research Triangle Institute International Interviewers

Tracking

Information on method to track data unavailable.

The SCDC administrative records provided initial sampling data, including demographics, intake assessment, and administrative information. (Bogner, Corrigan, Ferguson, Pickelsimer, & Wald, 2012)

Findings

Sixty-five percent of male releases and non-releases, and 72% and 73% of female releases and non-releases, reported at least 1 TBI with an alteration of consciousness. Forty-two percent of male releases and 50% of non-releases, and 50% of female releases and 33% of non-releases, reported at least 1 TBI with loss of consciousness. Thirty-five percent of male releases and 42% of non-releases, and 55% of female releases and 58% of no releases, reported ongoing symptoms from TBI. (Bogner, Corrigan, Ferguson, Pickelsimer, & Wald, 2012)

Report findings were extensive and cannot be added as PDF’s to our site. Please submit a request at the link above and we will send the report(s) via email within 24-48 business hours.

Information and Referrals

While there were no referrals or connecting to community resources in the study, the researchers did note the following: Without effective interventions, these conditions are likely to pose public health and social challenges that continue when the offenders return to the community and hence predispose them to return to prison. (Bogner, Corrigan, Ferguson, Pickelsimer, & Wald, 2012).

Trainings

While there were no trainings conducted in the study, the researchers did note the following: Without a clear understanding of how TBI may impact a person, prison officials may be misled to believe that the offender is deliberately defiant. When this happens, disciplinary action may be taken toward an offender with an “invisible disability” who has limited awareness of and/or control over his actions.

Prison staff training concerning the consequences of TBI, similar to that being done in some prisons regarding mental illness and epilepsy, could be conducted. The education of prison staff in management strategies of inmates with TBI could benefit both the inmates, by potentially decreasing infraction penalties, and staff, by potentially decreasing negative or even dangerous encounters with inmates. (Bogner, Corrigan, Ferguson, Pickelsimer, & Wald, 2012)

Name

Brain Injury Association of South Carolina

E-mail

director@biaofsc.com

Website

Brain Injury Association of South Carolina

Phone Number

803-731-9823

Information Unavailable

Information Unavailable

Information acquired through online published studies.

Bogner, P. J., Corrigan, P. J., Ferguson, P. P., Pickelsimer, P. E., & Wald, M. M. (2012). Prevalence of traumatic brain injury among prisoners in South Carolina. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 27(3), E11-E20.

This study has shown a high prevalence of TBI in a stratified random sample of state inmates, both those being released and those remaining in prison. These results are generally in concordance with those of other studies, where comparable, but this study also provides prevalence for subgroups of TBI and a lifetime history of TBI. Not only is TBI common among inmates, but early TBI, repeat TBI, and ongoing TBI symptoms are also quite prevalent.

A substantial proportion of prisoners reported having experienced a TBI during their lifetime. The ongoing TBI symptoms reported by prisoners may impact their success on release. (Bogner, Corrigan, Ferguson, Pickelsimer, & Wald, 2012)