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TVRGC: Tracking Vulnerability & Resilience in Gambling Crime Careers
Public Health Approach to reducing problem gambling and crime
Targeting populations at risk
Based on evidence and epidemiology
Policy Context: Gambling Act – protecting the vulnerable, prisoner mental health, crime reduction
Global Review (Williams et al, 2005)
1/3 of criminal offenders meet criteria for problem or pathological gambling. This is the highest rate yet found in any population (in UK this would be 26000 men).
The prevalence of gambling within prisons (40%) appears lower than in the general population.
Inmates who do gamble tend to do so regularly, and problem and pathological gamblers are disproportionately represented among this group.
Screening and provision of specialized help are currently lacking in most correctional facilities
TVRGC
Partnership: Lancaster and Glasgow Universities
Funded by RGF/ESRC 36 month screening and follow up
study (longitudinal) 6 prisons – England/Scotland,
Male/Female, North/South
Problem Gambling Severity Index
Bet more than can afford to loose A need to gambling with increasing amounts of money Chasing losses Borrowed money or sold items to get money to gamble Felt had a problem with gambling Gambling causing health problems including stress and
anxiety People criticising gambling behaviour Gambling causing financial problems for you or your
household Felt guilty about way that you gamble or what happens when
you gamble
3 Gambling Groups (PGSI category)
Non problem and low risk (0-2)
Moderate risk and problem (3+)
(Problem gambler 8+)
Abstainers (those who haven’t gambled in 12 months before prison)
Prevalence questionnaire in 6 prisons (N=1200)
Group 1: Moderate/severe problem gamblers – 9 in each prison
Group 2: Non problem/low risk gamblers – 9 in each prison
Group 3: Abstainers – 9 in each prison
First interview pre-release: 1 – 2 months after questionnaire completion. In-depth (approx 1 hour) gathering personal history, gambling career data
Second interview: 6-8 months later in community. In depth (approx 1 hour) probing gambling careers and resilience factors since leaving prison
Third interview: 6-8 months later in community. In depth (approx 1 hour) continuing to probe gambling careers and resilience factors since leaving prison
Tracking crime
careers of all on PNC
Looking at Resilience
Family support Social networks Participation Identity Self esteem Problem solving International Resilience Project Canada
Looking at co-morbidity
Drug use Alcohol use Links to gambling Links to crime Links to resilience
OffGam Pilot Wave 1 Findings (N=201)
Averaging a 64% response rate 52% knew of at least one other person in
prison with a gambling problem 26.4% knew of at least five other people 5.4% consider their current offence was linked
to gambling 12% linked gambling to past offending (21% of
gamblers)
Problem Gambling Prevalence in Prison (Pilot)
Not gambled 12 mths prior 43.7% Gambled with no problem 6.7% Low Risk (1-2 PGSI) 19.0% Moderate Risk (3-7 PGSI) 17.1% Problem Gambler (8+ PGSI) 14.3%
13% (27) of total (a quarter of all gamblers) volunteered for treatment
Key Contacts England
Research Officer: Allie Wilson at Lancaster [email protected] (01524 594095)
Co-ordinator: Corinne May-Chahal [email protected] (01524 594104)
GamCare: http://www.gamcare.org.uk/ A useful reference: Williams et al, 2005, Gambling
and Problem Gambling Within Forensic Populations: A Review of the Literature, Criminal Justice and Behavior, 32 pp 665-689
