NCJ Number
45107
Editor(s)
J P CONRAD,
S DINITZ
Date Published
1977
Length
155 pages
Annotation
A COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION OF SEVERAL IMPORTANT SEGMENTS OF THE PROBLEM OF THE IDENTIFICATION, TREATMENT, AND CONTROL OF THE DANGEROUS OFFENDER IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THIS TEXT ALSO REPRESENTS AN OVERVIEW, IN ARTICLE FORM, OF SOME OF THE MAJOR INITIATIVES OF THE DANGEROUS OFFENDER PROJECT. THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS HIGHLIGHT SOCIETY'S INADEQUACY IN IDENTIFYING, PREVENTING, OR EVEN MANAGING THE DANGEROUS OFFENDER, BY RELATING TWO CASE HISTORIES. LITERATURE ON THE PSYCHOPATHIC/SOCIOPATHIC/ANTISOCIAL PERSONALITY IN RELATION TO DANGEROUSNESS, ON THE ONE HAND, AND CHRONICALLY ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR ON THE OTHER, IS REVIEWED. THE ESSENCE OF AN EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT PROGRAM IS BRIEFLY DESCRIBED. PARADIGMS CONCERNING THE BIOLOGICAL SUBSTRATA OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR ARE REVIEWED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SOCIETY MAY BE ENTERING A PERIOD IN WHICH THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE BIOMEDICAL ASPECTS OF BEHAVIOR IS QUALITATIVELY DIFFERENT FROM THAT AT ANY TIME IN THE PAST. THE ISSUE MAY NO LONGER BE THE INADEQUACY OF SOCIETY'S UNDERSTANDING, BUT THE SOCIAL CONTROL OF ITS KNOWLEDGE. CONCERN IS EXPRESSED ABOUT THE INTRUSIVE BIOMEDICAL INTERVENTION -- PHARMACOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOSURGICAL -- RECOMMENDED AND USED WITH HUMANS. WHILE DETAILING A NEW NONINTRUSIVE LINE OF INTERVENTION THAT ALTERS THE INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT, THE AUTHOR OF THIS ARTICLE CAUTIONS AGAINST THE TENDENCY TO REDUCE SOCIAL PROBLEMS TO PERSONAL PATHOLOGIES. ANOTHER SELECTION PRESENTS A PARTICIPANT-OBSERVER STUDY OF PROFESSIONAL DECISIONMAKING IN A HOSPITAL FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE. BASED ON A FEDERAL COURT ORDER, TWELVE THREE-MEMBER TEAMS OF OUTSIDE EXPERTS WERE EMPANELED TO EVALUATE ALL RESIDENTS TO BE RELEASED, TRANSFERRED TO A CIVILIAN MENTAL HOSTITAL, OR ASSIGNED TO CONTINUED SAFEKEEPING IN OHIO'S LIMA STATE HOSPITAL FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE. THE DECISION WAS PREDICATED ON THE POTENTIAL DANGEROUSNESS OF THE PRISONER-PATIENT. FURTHER CHAPTERS EXAMINE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROPOSED REMEDY OF INCAPACITATION, AS OPPOSED TO REHABILITATION OF THE DANGEROUS OFFENDER; PRESENT AN OVERVIEW OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AND PROTECTIVE CUSTODY PRACTICES AND PROBLEMS IN THE TRADITIONAL PRISON, DISCUSSING THE ETHNIC, RACIAL, AND RELIGIOUS ANTAGONISMS IN PRISONS AND INMATE CULTURE; AND DEAL WITH THE ETHICAL ISSUES RAISED BY THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF DANGEROUSNESS (E.G., THE TENSION BETWEEN CONFLICTING INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND THE RIGHT OF A COLLECTIVITY TO PROTECT ITS MEMBERS). (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).