NCJ Number
58126
Date Published
1979
Length
304 pages
Annotation
A LARGE-SCALE FOLLOWUP STUDY TO DETERMINE THE 'DANGEROUSNESS' OF 586 INMATES OF FARVIEW STATE HOSPITAL (PA.) FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE, RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY OR TRANSFERRED TO CIVIL HOSPITALS, IS GIVEN.
Abstract
IN 1971, THE OUTCOME OF THE DIXON CASE (DIXON AND SIX OTHER PLAINTIFFS FILED SUIT ALLEGING THE UNCONSTITUTIONALITY OF THEIR COMMITMENTS TO AN INSTITUTION FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE) LED TO THE RELEASE AND TRANSFER OF THE FARVIEW INMATES; THIS PROVIDED A CHANCE TO OBSERVE THE BEHAVIOR OF THESE SUPPOSEDLY DANGEROUS PERSONS OVER AN EXTENDED PERIOD. THROUGH EXHAUSTIVE EXAMINATION OF HOSPITAL AND POLICE RECORDS AND INTERVIEWS WITH HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS AND THE SUBJECTS THEMSELVES, THE AUTHORS ASSESSED THE PROCESSES BY WHICH THE PATIENTS HAD BEEN RETAINED IN CONFINEMENT, THE IMPACT OF THEIR RELEASE UPON THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND THEIR ABILITY TO ADJUST TO THE FREEDOM OF COMMUNITY LIFE. THE SUBJECTS WERE FOLLOWED FROM 1972 TO 1975. THE STUDY DEMONSTRATED THAT THE PATIENTS DID NOT DISPLAY A SIGNIFICANT LEVEL OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR DURING CONFINEMENT, NOR DID THEY POSE A MAJOR SOCIAL THREAT AFTER RELEASE. IN FACT, THEIR SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ADJUSTMENT TO COMMUNITY LIFE IS COMPARABLE TO THAT OF NONCRIMINAL MENTAL PATIENTS. AFTER 4 YEARS, ONLY 14 PERCENT OF THE SAMPLE HAD BEEN ARRESTED OR READMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A VIOLENT ACT; A RATE THAT IS HIGH WHEN COMPARED TO THAT OF THE POPULATION AT LARGE, BUT LOW WHEN COMPARED WITH THE EXPECTATIONS ENGENDERED BY THE LABEL 'CRIMINALLY INSANE.' THE FACT THAT THESE SUBJECTS HAD BEEN CONFINED TO MAXIMUM SECURITY HOSPITALS FOR AN AVERAGE OF 14 YEARS IS PROBABLY DUE TO THE INACCURACY OF THE PROCESS OF 'POLITICAL PREDICTION' IN WHICH CLINICIANS AVOID ANY POTENTIAL RISKS TO THE COMMUNITY, THE REPUTATION OF THEIR HOSPITALS, AND THEIR CAREERS BY CONSISTENTLY OVERPREDICTING DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR. THE SURVEY INSTRUMENT, A BIBLIOGRAPHY AND INDEX, AND STUDY DATA ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--DAG)