The Mechanism of Risk for Black Men in a Felony Diversion Program: A Path Analysis

Background and Purpose: Philadelphia is the most incarcerated metropolis in the world. Efforts to reduce the incarceration population has led to a rapidly expanding population of mostly Black men assigned to community intervention diversion programs, in lieu of incarceration. While scholars have documented high rates of mental illness among the incarcerated population, and its interaction with experiences of violence, lack of adult attachment, and crime-related risk among Black men, few studies have examined these factors among those recently arrested or incarcerated. Specifically, little is known about behavioral impulsiveness in this population, a factor that has been associated with criminal involvement. Understanding the mechanism of influence for behavioral risk may be crucial to shaping effective diversion interventions. We examine how behavioral impulsiveness is affected by psychiatric symptoms, violent experiences, and adult attachment among Black men in a felony diversion program in Philadelphia.

Methods: We conducted surveys from 2022 to 2023 of consented participants (n=126) in a Philadelphia diversion program who had been diverted for a felony in the past year. Validated instruments measured behavioral impulsiveness (Abbreviated Impulsiveness Scale), psychiatric symptoms (Colorado Symptoms Index), violent experiences (Safety, Firearms, Environment, Threats Score), and attachment (Adult Attachment Scale). Regression models first examined correlates of impulsiveness and psychiatric status. Results informed a path model that analyzed the mechanism through which factors affected impulsiveness.

Results: The mean age of participants was 29, with 97% identifying as Black, and 98% as male. The sample was very socially precarious: 30% suffered from a diagnosable psychiatric disability, and 59% were functionally homeless (doubling-up with friends or family). Regression models and conceptual frameworks from previous literature suggested a path model where behavioral impulsiveness was the dependent variable, psychiatric symptoms constituted an endogenous variable, while the two exogenous variables were experience of violence and anxious adult attachment. In the path analysis, psychiatric symptoms were significantly positively associated with behavioral impulsiveness (p<0.001) and mediated the effects of both exogenous variables. Experiencing violence had a significant total effect on impulsiveness (p<0.0001), a significant indirect effect through psychiatric disability (p<.001), and a borderline significant direct effect (p=0.05). Anxious adult attachment had a significant total effect on impulsiveness (p<0.0001), a significant indirect effect through psychiatric disability (p<.001), and no direct effect.

Conclusions and Implications: Our results enunciate the effects of markers of racism such as exposure to violence and barriers to adult attachment for poor Black men. Both factors lead to psychiatric symptoms, which in turn, raise the risk of behavioral impulsiveness. Our results highlight the possible pathways to crime-related risk behaviors, as well as possible ways to intervene in diversion programs. Mental illness is a key mediator and needs to be addressed through evidence-based therapeutic protocols. Structural interventions such as creating or relocating to safe environments are also key factors in reducing risk, especially in Philadelphia which has one of the highest incidence of gun-related violence in the U.S. Finally, group therapy and community-based initiatives that enhance attachment and community-building, can have significant salubrious effects.