Relationships between substance use disorders, 'severe mental illness' and re-arrest in a county detention facility: A 4-year follow-up cohort study.

Using detailed mental illness diagnosis data with a complete cohort of detained arrestees, we have shown the wide range of need among such individuals. By demonstrating that drug-associated crimes per se do not drive repeated arrest, we underscore a need to examine other factors that promote the cycle of repeated arrest in this population. Each individual requires treatment tailored to their personal psychiatric and criminogenic needs.