Session Title

Session 2-3-C: Gambling and Crime

Presentation Type

Event

Location

The Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

Start Date

8-6-2016 2:00 PM

End Date

8-6-2016 3:30 PM

Disciplines

Mental and Social Health | Psychology | Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration | Substance Abuse and Addiction

Abstract

The prevalence rates of problem gambling in the adult correctional population are 5 to 10 times higher than those found in the general population. The purpose of this study is to examine the type of interventions used to deal with this population. We conducted a combination of literature review and key informant study to examine the state of programming for problem gambling for clients who experience incarceration. The published literature on this topic is remarkably sparse. In fact only two peer reviewed published studies were identified that formally evaluated a treatment program for problem gambling for clients in these settings. However, we uncovered a small number of programs (10) that have been developed for and delivered to this population including a gambling treatment court in Buffalo, Gamblers Anonymous, outpatient treatment during probation or parole, brief psycho-educational programs, a full treatment program, and inpatient treatment after release. Although some programs have been delivered within correctional institution, others have been offered either after release or prior to sentencing. A major issue is the lack of awareness of problem gambling in the criminal justice system among judges, lawyers, wardens, corrections workers, parole officers and the gamblers themselves. The results are discussed in terms of stigma, barriers, issues, and opportunities for programming for this population.

Keywords

gambling, prison, treatment, qualitative research, literature review, stigma

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Jun 8th, 2:00 PM Jun 8th, 3:30 PM

Interventions for Problem Gamblers in the Correctional System

The Mirage Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

The prevalence rates of problem gambling in the adult correctional population are 5 to 10 times higher than those found in the general population. The purpose of this study is to examine the type of interventions used to deal with this population. We conducted a combination of literature review and key informant study to examine the state of programming for problem gambling for clients who experience incarceration. The published literature on this topic is remarkably sparse. In fact only two peer reviewed published studies were identified that formally evaluated a treatment program for problem gambling for clients in these settings. However, we uncovered a small number of programs (10) that have been developed for and delivered to this population including a gambling treatment court in Buffalo, Gamblers Anonymous, outpatient treatment during probation or parole, brief psycho-educational programs, a full treatment program, and inpatient treatment after release. Although some programs have been delivered within correctional institution, others have been offered either after release or prior to sentencing. A major issue is the lack of awareness of problem gambling in the criminal justice system among judges, lawyers, wardens, corrections workers, parole officers and the gamblers themselves. The results are discussed in terms of stigma, barriers, issues, and opportunities for programming for this population.