NCJ Number
80443
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1981) Pages: 324-334
Date Published
1981
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Findings are summarized from a review of the results of the psychiatric probation orders made in a reasonably representative group of British courts in 1969 and 1970.
Abstract
All the offenders aged 17 or over appearing before the 18 magistrates' courts in Inner London and the City in 1969 and, for comparison, those appearing before the 38 courts in the area of the Wessex Regional Hospital Board were checked for remands for medical reports. The 3,960 medical remands in Inner London resulted in 112 offenders (2.8 percent) receiving a probation order with condition of psychiatric treatment. In Wessex, however, a smaller proportion of offenders were remanded for medical reports, but the 490 remands resulted in 5 times as many psychiatric orders. The total of 222 cases with psychiatric orders from both sites were surveyed to determine subsequent criminal convictions (within 5 years) and hospital readmissions. The sample was finally reduced to 174 either because of data incompleteness or because some offenders had not been made subject to an official order. Most patients were under treatment for some months, followed by 1 or 2 years supervision. The most successful cases were those which were clearly suitable for probation, but in which the order's operation could not begin until the offender had recovered his mental balance. Nearly all offenders, mentally disordered or not, have substantial social problems, and treatment of any mental disorder should address these problems. Clearly, the number of probation orders with a condition of psychiatric treatment is much too low. Tabular data and nine references are provided.