NCJ Number
55625
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: (1976) Pages: 134-143
Date Published
1976
Length
10 pages
Annotation
CLINICAL PROBLEMS OF DANGEROUS OFFENDERS IN DENMARK AND WHETHER THESE OFFENDERS NEED TREATMENT DIFFERENT FROM OTHER INSTITUTIONALIZED PERSONS ARE ADDRESSED, AND THE ROLE OF FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY IN TREATMENT IS EXAMINED.
Abstract
THE DANISH CRIMINAL CODE DEFINES AS ABNORMAL INSANITY AND SIMILAR CONDITIONS AND PRONOUNCED CASES OF MENTAL DEFICIENCY, AS WELL AS PERMANENT CONDITIONS OF DEFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT OR IMPAIRMENT AND DISTURBANCE OF MENTAL FACULTIES INCLUDING SEXUAL ABNORMALITIES. MEDICAL TERMS HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IN THE CODE IN AN EFFORT TO ESTABLISH SATISFACTORY COLLABORATION BETWEEN LAW AND PSYCHIATRY. NORMAL OFFENDERS DO NOT BELONG IN THE PROVINCE OF THE SPECIAL PSYCHIATRIST. THE BORDERLINE BETWEEN NORMAL AND ABNORMAL, HOWEVER, IS NOT CLEAR PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT IS HARD TO DEFINE ABNORMALITY. IF FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY IS TO DEVELOP INTO MORE THAN A LABELING PROCEDURE, IT MUST BE REALIZED THAT PROFESSIONALS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO PERSONS CLASSIFIED AS CRIMINALS WHO ARE IN NEED OF SPECIALIZED HELP. THE SCOPE OF FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY, THEREFORE, REPRESENTS A PSYCHIATRIC SUBSPECIALTY. THE CONCEPT OF DANGEROUSNESS IS AS HARD TO DEFINE AS ABNORMALITY. FEW PERSONS ARE DANGEROUS ALL THE TIME, AND THE IMMEDIATE SITUATION HAS A DECISIVE INFLUENCE ON THE PROVOCATION OF DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR. DANGEROUS OFFENDERS ARE DEFINED AS PERSONS WHO HAVE COMMITTED, OR HAVE THREATENED TO COMMIT, SEVERE BODILY HARM TO OTHERS AND ARE BELIEVED CAPABLE OF OR LIKELY TO REPEAT SUCH ACTS. SPECIALIZED TREATMENT FOR THESE OFFENDERS IS ONLY PARTIALLY MEDICAL. PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL HELP ALONG WITH WELL-BALANCED AND FRIENDLY SUPPORT PROVIDED BY ATTENDANTS IN INSTITUTIONS ARE ESSENTIAL. SECONDARY REACTIONS ARISE FROM THE REALIZATION OF OFFENDERS THAT THEY HAVE PERPETRATED A SERIOUS CRIME, FROM ENSUING PUBLICITY, AND FROM SENTENCING AND INCARCERATION. BECAUSE OF THESE REACTIONS, OFFENDERS ARE OFTEN IN SUCH A STATE OF MIND THAT PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES ARE NEEDED. A CLINICAL APPROACH IN FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY IS RECOMMENDED THAT INCORPORATES A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF SECONDARY REACTIONS. AS SOON AS THE CORRECTIVE PROCESS HAS BECOME EFFECTIVE, WITH THE HELP OF FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY, INSTITUTIONAL PERSONNEL MUST COMMUNICATE WITH INMATES IN DETERMINING READINESS FOR PAROLE AND IN CONVINCING LEGAL AUTHORITIES OF SUCH READINESS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY WILL EVENTUALLY PROVIDE AN IMPORTANT MEANS OF HANDLING MANY CRIMINALS AND THAT INDEPENDENT PSYCHIATRIC UNITS IN PRISONS CREATE POSSIBILITIES FOR SHAPING BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS OF CRIMINALS AND INTRODUCING EXPERIMENTAL ATTITUDES IN THE TRADITIONAL PENAL SYSTEM. THREE CASE STUDIES OF DANGEROUS OFFENDERS AND THEIR TREATMENT ARE INCLUDED, AND REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)