NCJ Number
7679
Journal
Crime and Delinquency Volume: 18 Issue: 4 Dated: (OCTOBER 1972) Pages: 371-392
Date Published
1972
Length
22 pages
Annotation
STUDY DEFINES DANGEROUSNESS AS POTENTIAL FOR INFLICTING SERIOUS BODILY HARM ON OTHERS, AND GIVES CRITERIA AND GUIDELINES FOR ITS PREDICTION.
Abstract
CENTER FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT FOR DANGEROUS PERSONS IN BRIDGEWATER, MASSACHUSETTS WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE STATE IN 1959. THE STATE LAW IS SEEN AS UNIQUE BECAUSE IT DELEGATED PRIMARY AUTHORITY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF DANGEROUS PERSONS TO PSYCHIATRY RATHER THAN PENOLOGY. THE STUDY DEALS WITH 592 CONVICTED MALE OFFENDERS SENT TO THE CENTER. THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS INDICATED THAT 304 OF THESE PERSONS WERE NOT DANGEROUS AND THEY WERE RELEASED INTO THE COMMUNITY AFTER COMPLETING THEIR SENTENCES. TWENTY-SIX OF THESE SUBSEQUENTLY COMMITTED SERIOUS CRIMES. THE COURTS CONCURRED IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF DANGEROUS IN 226 CASES AND COMMITTED THESE OFFENDERS TO THE CENTER'S SPECIAL TREATMENT. FOLLOWING TREATMENT 82 PATIENTS WERE DISCHARGED ON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CLINICAL STAFF. FIVE SUBSEQUENTLY COMMITTED SERIOUS CRIMES, INCLUDING ONE MURDER. FORTY-NINE OF THE ORIGINALLY COMMITTED WERE RELEASED BY COURT ORDER AGAINST ADVICE OF THE STAFF. SEVENTEEN COMMITTED SERIOUS CRIMES INCLUDING 2 MURDERS. TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS AT THE CENTER WAS PRIMARILY PSYCHIATRIC. ITS OBJECT WAS TO MODIFY THE PATIENT'S DANGEROUS POTENTIAL. IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMMITMENT A THERAPEUTIC PLAN WAS FORMULATED FOR EACH PATIENT. THE REPORT INCLUDES A DISCUSSION OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF THERAPY INVOLVED. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT TREATMENT WAS SUCCESSFUL IN MODIFYING THE DANGEROUS POTENTIAL OF A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF PATIENTS RECOMMENDED FOR DISCHARGE, BUT THAT THERE IS MUCH ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC COMPETENCE.