Table 2 Criminal and psychosocial characteristics of ASPDin Dessie city correctional center, Dessie, Northeast, Ethiopia, 2020 (N = 320)

Length of stay in prison(in a year)

Less than 3

247

77.2

4–6

48

15.0

7–9

13

4.1

Greater than 9

12

3.8

Decided by the court on sentence

Yes

273

85.3

No

47

14.7

For how long charged in prison (in the year)

1–6

137

42.8

7–12

91

28.4

13–18

34

10.6

Greater than 18

14

4.4

Types of crime have been done

Murder

129

40.3

Physical attack and try to murder

62

19.4

Rape and abduction

25

7.8

Theft and Robbery

80

25.0

Others^a

24

7.5

Convicted before the current one by the court

Yes

34

10.6

No

286

89.4

Frequency of convicted before the current one

Once

16

5

Twice

17

5.3

Triple

1

0.3

For how long convicted before(in year)

<  5 year

30

9.4

> = 5 year

4

1.3

Loss of loved

Yes

168

52.5

No

152

47.5

History of self-harm

Yes

56

17.5

No

264

82.5

Social support

Poor social support

180

56.3

Moderate social support

120

37.5

Strong social support

20

6.3