NCJ Number
52578
Date Published
1977
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A FOLLOWUP STUDY OF 206 MALE PATIENTS DISCHARGED FROM THE MAXIMUM SECURITY DIVISION OF A PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTION IN ONTARIO, CANADA, IS DOCUMENTED.
Abstract
THE STUDY SAMPLE INCLUDED ALL PATIENTS RELEASED FROM THE FACILITY DURING 1972, EXCLUDING THOSE WHO HAD BEEN RETURNED BY THE FACILITY TO THE COURTS AND THOSE WHO HAD DIED. THE SAMPLE INCLUDED 18 MEN WHO HAD BEEN HELD ON WARRANTS OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AFTER HAVING BEEN FOUND NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY OR UNFIT FOR TRIAL; 183 WHO HAD BEEN CERTIFIED AS MENTALLY ILL AND DETAINED INVOLUNTARILY UNDER THE ONTARIO MENTAL HEALTH ACT; AND 5 WHO HAD BEEN TREATED UNDER THEIR OWN VOLITION AS INFORMAL PATIENTS. THE PATIENTS WERE FOLLOWED UP IN FEBRUARY 1976, 37 TO 49 MONTHS AFTER RELEASE, TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY HAD FAILED, I.E., BEEN CONVICTED OF A NEW OFFENSE OR READMITTED TO THE PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY. OF THE SAMPLE, 46 PERCENT FAILED, USUALLY THROUGH THE COMMISSION OF A MINOR PROPERTY OFFENSE, AND 17 PERCENT COMMITTED AT LEAST ONE VIOLENT OFFENSE AGAINST A PERSON. AS IN EARLIER STUDIES OF PATIENTS DISCHARGED FROM THE SAME FACILITY, YOUNGER PATIENTS WITH PERSONALITY DISORDERS WERE MORE LIKELY TO FAIL AND MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT A VIOLENT OFFENSE THAN WERE OLDER, NONPERSONALITY-DISORDERED PATIENTS. A FAILURE PREDICTION SCALE DEVELOPED IN AN EARLIER STUDY WAS FOUND TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY RELATED TO THE PROBABILITY OF FAILURE IN THIS SAMPLE, BUT THE ACCURACY OF THE SCALE WAS LIMITED. NO SUPPORTING TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED-LKM)