IMPOSING AND RECOMMENDING UNCONDITIONAL GOVERNMENTAL COMMITMENT OF MENTALLY DISTURBED OFFENDERS - NUMBERS INVOLVED, DILEMMAS AND CASE HISTORIES

• NCJ Number: 28117
• Journal: NEDERLANDS TIJDSCHRIFT VOOR CRIMINOLOGIE Volume: 17 Dated: (APRIL, 1975) Pages: 49-62
• Author(s): F H L BEYAERT; J J VANNISSELROY
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 14 pages
• Corporate Author: J A Boom En Zoon
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Country: Netherlands

Annotation

GOVERNMENTAL COMMITMENT OF THE MENTALLY ILL HAS BEEN IMPOSED LESS FREQUENTLY IN RECENT YEARS IN THE NETHERLANDS, AND TWO INSTITUTIONS FOR MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS WERE CLOSED AROUND 1970.

Abstract

STATISTICS ON THE IMPOSING OF GOVERNMENTAL COMMITMENT ARE PROVIDED FOR THE YEARS 1964 THROUGH 1973. THEY SHOW THIS TREND PARTICULARLY IN 1972 AND 1973. THE FOLLOWING REASONS ARE GIVEN AS PROBABLE CAUSES OF THIS TREND. THE PHRASE 'IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC ORDER' IS GIVEN A STRICTER INTERPRETATION, AND CONSEQUENTLY FEWER OFFENDERS ARE COMMITTED FOR PREVENTIVE REASONS. JUDGES AND THEIR PSYCHOLOGIST ADVISERS ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE SECURITY AGAINST ESCAPE OFFERED BY THE MENTAL INSTITUTIONS. THEY ALSO QUESTION THE INSTITUTIONS' ABILITY TO CHANGE THESE PEOPLE ENOUGH THROUGH TREATMENT SO THAT THEY CAN RETURN TO A NORMAL LIFE. THERE IS A RELUCTANCE TO IMPOSE GOVERNMENTAL COMMITMENT BECAUSE IT IS FOR AN INDEFINITE TERM. THE DECRIMINALIZATION OF VARIOUS SMALLER OFFENSES HAS LED TO AN UNWILLINGNESS TO IMPOSE INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT ON INDIVIDUALS. --IN DUTCH