NCJ Number
59633
Journal
Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (1977) Pages: 41-50
Date Published
1977
Length
10 pages
Annotation
PREDICTION OF AN OFFENDER'S DANGEROUSNESS AND POSSIBLE RECIDIVISM IS NOT A SIMPLE YES OR NO MATTER. A SERIES OF CASE HISTORIES ILLUSTRATE THE COMPLEX INTERACTION BETWEEN TYPE OF CRIME AND PROBABILITY OF FUTURE CRIME.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF PSYCHIATRIC EXAMINATION OF OFFENDERS IS THE DETERMINATION OF LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY, OF FITNESS TO STAND TRIAL, OF PROGNOSIS, AND OF DYNAMIC FACTORS LEADING TO THE OFFENSE. THE COMMISSION OF FUTURE OFFENSES IS CLOSELY TIED TO THE DYNAMICS OF THE PRESENT OFFENSE AND THE OFFENDER'S PERSONALITY ORGANIZATION (EGO STRENGTH, FANTASY LIFE, VALUE SYSTEM, AND EMPATHIC CAPACITY). CASE HISTORIES ILLUSTRATE (1) ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENSES, IN WHICH A PERSON WITH WEAK EGO STRENGTH IS SWEPT AWAY BY ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS; (2) SITUATIONAL OFFENSES, WHICH ARE MOSTLY COMMITTED BY INDIVIDUALS WITH LITTLE PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IN RESPONSE TO THE STRESS OF A SITUATION; (3) IMPULSIVE OFFENSES, USUALLY COMMITTED BY PERSONS WITH LOOSE PERSONALITY INTEGRATION AND CHARACTERIZED BY POOR IMPULSE CONTROL; (4) CATATHYMIC OFFENSES, WHICH TRANSFORM FANTASIES INTO OFFENSES; AND (5) COMPULSIVE OFFENSES, WHICH ARE ON THE EXTREME ENDOGENOUS END OF THE MOTIVATIONAL SPECTRUM. THE CATATHYMIC OFFENDERS HAVE A MUCH BETTER PROGNOSIS THAN THE COMPULSIVE AND IMPULSIVE OFFENDERS WHILE THE PROGNOSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENDERS DEPENDS TO A GREAT EXTENT ON THE VALUE SYSTEM OF THE OFFENDER AND ON FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO COMMIT CRIME. CATATHYMIC AND COMPULSIVE OFFENDERS CANNOT BE DETERRED BY LEGAL MEASURES WHILE SITUATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENDERS SHOULD BE TREATED IN THE TRADITIONAL CORRECTIONAL MANNER UNLESS MENTALLY INCOMPETENT AND ILL. CASE STUDIES ARE INCLUDED, AND NUMEROUS REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)