NCJ Number
112780
Journal
International Journal of Law and Psychiatry Volume: 11 Dated: (1988) Pages: 105-112
Date Published
1988
Length
8 pages
Annotation
A followup survey of 132 criminal defendants adjudged not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) in New York State between September 1971 through June 1976 and released by August 31, 1981, revealed that 29 percent had been rearrested, suggesting that current treatment methods for this group do little to eliminate their antisocial behavior.
Abstract
Results vary widely in the few studies which have addressed recidivism rates among persons adjudicated insane. The initial pool for this survey comprised all 225 NGRI defendants for the 1971-1976 period. Of the 132 discharged from mental hospitals by August 1981, 110 were males and 22 were females. Within this group, 14 were on escape status. Of the 77 NGRI acquittees who had no arrest prior to the NGRI plea, only 17 percent were arrested after their hospital discharge. Of the 55 subjects who had a prearrest, 45 percent had a postdischarge arrest. Those persons who escaped from the hospital had lower rearrest rates than those who were released through normal discharge procedures. Numerous variables used in the discriminant analysis are discussed, as are prediction issues. Tables and 9 references.