Law and Human Behavior, Vol 47(5), Oct 2023, 579-590; doi:10.1037/lhb0000542
Objective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is positively associated with involvement in the criminal justice system among veterans. Research that examines whether this association is confounded by risk factors (“criminogenic needs”) from the risk–need–responsivity model of correctional rehabilitation can inform risk management with this population. Hypotheses: We hypothesized that (a) veterans with probable PTSD would score higher on all criminogenic needs than veterans without PTSD and (b) probable PTSD would be associated with criminal history but not after accounting for criminogenic needs. Method: We conducted secondary analyses of data from 341 veterans (95.3% male; 57.8% White/non-Hispanic/Latinx; Mage = 46.2 years) with a history of criminal justice system involvement who were admitted to mental health residential treatment. At treatment entry, participants completed interviews to assess criminal history, risk–need–responsivity-based criminogenic needs, and PTSD symptom severity. Cross-sectional analyses tested for differences between participants with and without probable PTSD on criminogenic needs and criminal history, and a multiple regression model examined the unique contributions of probable PTSD and criminogenic needs on criminal history. Results: The majority of the sample (74%, n = 251) met probable criteria for PTSD. Compared with veterans without PTSD, those with probable PTSD scored significantly higher on criminogenic needs of antisocial personality patterns, antisocial cognitions, antisocial associates, substance use, and family/marital dysfunction but did not differ on multiple indices of criminal history (Cohen’s ds = 0.60–0.86). In the regression model, higher age (β = 0.52, p