NCJ Number
60095
Journal
Crime and Social Justice Volume: 11 Dated: (SPRING-SUMMER 1979) Pages: 28-40
Date Published
1979
Length
13 pages
Annotation
PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT OF THE CONCEPT OF DANGEROUSNESS AND PSYCHIATRIC AND BEHAVIORAL MODELS FOR PREDICTING VIOLENCE ARE DISCUSSED, WITH REFERENCE TO EXPERIENCES IN OHIO AND ALABAMA.
Abstract
DIAGNOSTIC AND RECLASSIFICATION WORK REGARDING DANGEROUSNESS ARE COURT-MANDATED IN OHIO AND ALABAMA. THE STUDY OF PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT WORK IN OHIO INVOLVED THE USE OF 7 RESEARCHERS WHO OBSERVED THE WORK OF 12 MULTIDISCIPLINARY REVIEW TEAMS ORDERED BY A FEDERAL COURT TO RE-EVALUATE THE STATUS OF PATIENTS AT THE STATE'S MAXIMUM SECURITY HOSPITAL FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE. INTERVIEWS WITH PSYCHIATRIC PROFESSIONALS INDICATED THAT STANDARDS FOR RECOGNIZING DANGEROUSNESS FALL INTO TWO GENERAL CATEGORIES: (1) SIMPLY DANGEROUS, PERSONS WHOSE MENTAL DISTURBANCES ARE BELIEVED TO PREVENT THEM FROM FOLLOWING RULES OF SOCIETY; AND (2) PSYCHOPATHICALLY DANGEROUS, PERSONS WHO DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE INTERNALIZED SOCIETY'S RULES. THE PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT PROCESS TYPICALLY INVOLVES THREE PHASES (PREINTERVIEW, INTERVIEW, AND POSTINTERVIEW). WHILE JUSTIFICATORY AND RECONCILIATORY LOGIC HELP TO DEFINE THE GENERAL FORM OF FINAL DECISIONMAKING ABOUT DANGEROUSNESS, THE SUBSTANCE OF DECISIONS IS ALSO AFFECTED BY THE WAY IN WHICH PSYCHIATRIC TEAM MEMBERS NEGOTIATE STATUS AND POWER, ANTICIPATE CONSEQUENCES OF CERTAIN DIAGNOSES, AND REDUCE COMPLEX SOCIAL REALITIES TO INDIVIDUALISTIC CLINICAL REALITIES. BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS EMPLOYED IN ALABAMA EMERGED AS PART OF A LAWSUIT ADVANCED BY THE NATIONAL PRISON PROJECT, THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, AND OTHER REFORM-ORIENTED CITIZEN GROUPS. THE BEHAVIORAL MODEL REQUIRES THAT COMPELLING EVIDENCE OF VIOLENT ACTION BE DOCUMENTED BEFORE AN INMATE IS CATEGORIZED AS DANGEROUS AND CLASSIFIED FOR MAXIMUM SECURITY. THE PRISON CLASSIFICATION PROJECT (PCP) IS THE PRIMARY CATEGORIZATION AGENT FOR THE STATE'S APPROXIMATELY 2,500 INMATES. AS INSTITUTED BY THE PCP, THE CATEGORIZATION PROCESS INVOLVES THE USE OF THREE-PERSON BOARDS THAT CONSIDER LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL RECORDS, CONDUCT INTERVIEWS, AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. THE ALABAMA APPROACH IS LESS DISCRETIONARY THAN THE PSYCHIATRIC MODEL IN OHIO BUT DOES NOT ENTIRELY ELIMINATE THE DISCRETION OF ASSESSMENT AGENTS. THE VIABILITY OF USING PSYCHIATRIC AND BEHAVIORAL MODELS TO EVALUATE AND PREDICT DANGEROUSNESS IS EXAMINED. EXCERPTS FROM ASSESSMENT INTERVIEWS AND FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)