NCJ Number
110452
Date Published
1987
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This is a followup study of patients released during the 25 years of the operation of the Dr. Henri Van der Hoeven Clinic in the Netherlands, one of several Dutch institutions which treats mentally disordered offenders.
Abstract
The majority of the patients at the clinic have been committed under an order for detention at the government's pleasure (TBR), which applies to mentally disordered offenders not legally responsible for alleged offenses but deemed to be a threat to public safety. This study focuses on how the patient population has changed over the years of the clinic's operation, differences among patients, how patients adjusted after release, and the relationship between current adjustment of ex-patients and their stay at the institution. Data were obtained from institutional and court records for all patients admitted from the institution's opening in 1955 through December 1977 (627 patients). Data on adjustment after release were obtained from interviews with 331 ex-patients. The clinic's population characteristics have changed over the years, particularly regarding criminal histories. The number of patients committed for violent offenses has sharply increased, and crime patterns are more heterogeneous. These changes may be linked to changes in court commitment practices. Data indicate that treatment outcome depends on patient characteristics. The recidivism rate was significantly lower among violent offenders than among sex offenders and clearly lower than among property offenders. Although there was a distinct decrease in subsequent offenses, data are not sufficient to relate to treatment effectiveness. 7 tables, 6 references.