Longitudinal predictors of criminal arrest after traumatic brain injury: Results from the traumatic brain injury model system national database

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Study investigated the influence of pre-traumatic brain injury (TBI) variables and TBI-related characteristics on post-TBI criminal arrest, using longitudinal data from the Traumatic Brain Injury Model System National Database. Subjects and their families were contacted at 1, 2, and 5 years postinjury to assess the subjects’ post-TBI criminal arrests, level of functioning, and medical/social history in the preceding year, as well as substance abuse history. Three study samples were created consisting of individuals with complete data on all relevant measures, resulting in 6315 participants at 1 year post-TBI, 4982 at 2 years post-TBI, and 2690 at 5 years post-TBI. Analyses revealed that post-TBI criminal arrest was associated with gender, age, marital status, educational attainment, pre-TBI felony, pre-TBI drug abuse, pre-TBI alcohol abuse, and violent cause of TBI. Frontal, temporal, parietal, or occipital lobe lesions from computed tomographic scans did not predict post-TBI criminal arrests. Higher numbers of post-TBI arrests were predicted by loss of consciousness (24 or more hours), combined with retention of motor function. Results indicate that premorbid variables, especially pre-TBI felonies, were strongly linked to post-TBI criminal arrests. The relationship between TBI and arrest was complex, and different brain functions (e.g., physical mobility) should be considered when understanding this association. These findings demonstrate that for post-TBI criminal behavior, many risk factors mirror those of the non-TBI general population.

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