NCJ Number
51544
Date Published
1973
Length
20 pages
Annotation
RECOMMENDATIONS OF A COMMISSION OF THE BELGIAN NATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH TO IMPROVE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DELINQUENCY ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
PROGRESS ACHIEVED OVER THE PAST DECADES AS WELL AS PENAL AND PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER SENTENCING OR HOSPITALIZATION OF THE DELINQUENT ARE OUTLINED. JURISTS HAVE INSUFFICIENT INSIGHT INTO THE SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF CRIME, AND DOCTORS ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE SAME PROBLEMS, SO THAT THE MEDICAL TREATMENT OF MENTALLY DEFICIENT DELINQUENTS IS INSUFFICIENT OR ANTITHERAPEUTIC. CRIME MUST BE UNDERSTOOD AS A DISEASE SYMPTOM, AND JUSTICE SHOULD CONSEQUENTLY ASSIST RATHER THAN REPRESS THE DELINQUENT. SUGGESTIONS FOR PRETREATMENT INCLUDE A CENTER TO INTRODUCE PRISONERS TO PRISON LIFE AND INDIVIDUAL DIAGNOSIS BASED ON SOCIAL, MEDICAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION BY A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM FOR BOTH JUVENILE AND ADULT OFFENDERS; FOR ACTUAL TREATMENT, SPECIAL ATTENTION IN PRISON TO BOTH NORMAL AND MENTALLY DEFICIENT PRISONERS THROUGH ADEQUATE FINANCING OF TREATMENT HOSPITALS; AND FOR POSTTREATMENT, CONTINUED GUIDANCE FROM VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS FOR SOCIAL READAPTATION AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT. SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF THREE TYPES OF DELINQUENTS (HABITUAL DELINQUENTS, BEGGARS AND VAGABONDS, AND MILITARY OFFENDERS) ARE DESCRIBED. THE NEED FOR THOROUGH REVISION OF LEGAL TEXTS AND FOR MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH COMBINING MEDICAL AND LEGAL RESOURCES IS EMPHASIZED. --IN FRENCH. (KMD)