NCJ Number
45456
Journal
BULLETIN DE MEDECINE LEGALE, URGENCE MEDICALE, CENTRE ANTI-POISONS Volume: 20 Issue: 6 Dated: (NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1977)
Date Published
1977
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THE CASE STUDIES OF TWO CRIMINALS ARE REVIEWED AND SUGGESTIONS FOR THEIR TREATMENT IN PRISON ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE BACKGROUND AND MOTIVES OF A SEXUAL PERVERT AND OF A MURDERER WHOSE PARANOIA DRIVES HIM TO KILL PEOPLE FOR MINOR INSULTS ARE OUTLINED IN DETAIL. ORDINARY PSYCHIATRIC HELP WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR THEM, BUT PSYCHOANALYSIS IN THE PRISON SETTING MIGHT MODIFY THEIR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND EVENTUALLY ALLOW SOCIAL REHABILITATION. IN THE CASE OF THE SEXUAL OFFENDER, THERE IS NO WAY OF TELLING HOW HE WILL ACT OUTSIDE OF JAIL; HOWEVER, IF NO TREATMENT IS GIVEN, HE WILL BE DANGEROUS FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE. THE COMBINATION OF PSYCHOANALYSIS AND CHEMOTHERAPY MAY PERMIT THE MURDERER TO MAINTAIN MORE CONTROL OVER HIS ACTIONS EVEN IF PREVENTION OF FURTHER CRIMES CANNOT BE GUARANTEED. THE PROBLEM OF TREATING JAILED CRIMINALS CALLS FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN PSYCHIATRISTS AND PSYCHOANALISTS IN INSTITUTIONS. IT IS NOT SUGGESTED THAT ALL CRIMINALS WITH MENTAL PROBLEMS BE TREATED, BUT RATHER THOSE WHOSE MENTAL ABNORMALITY MAY BE MODIFIED THROUGH A LONG PERIOD OF TREATMENT. BECAUSE OF THE NEED FOR LENGTHY TREATMENT AND THE DANGEROUS NATURE OF SUCH PERSONS, WHO RESPOND BUT CAN ONLY BE SET FREE AFTER VERY CAREFUL EVALUATION, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE CENTER FOR THEIR CARE BE PLACED UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. --IN FRENCH. (INL)