NCJ Number
65106
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 25 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1980) Pages: 3-14
Date Published
1980
Length
12 pages
Annotation
DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE AND FITNESS TO STAND TRIAL ARE REPORTED FOR SEXUAL OFFENDERS EXAMINED AT THE FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY CLINIC OF THE NEW YORK STATE SUPREME COURT FOR THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN IN 1974.
Abstract
OF THE 991 CASES EXAMINED IN 1974, 74 MET THE STUDY CRITERION OF HAVING BEEN CHARGED WITH AT LEAST ONE COUNT OF A SEXUAL OFFENSE. SUBJECT'S DEMOGRAPHIC DATA SHOWED THAT MOST OF THE 74 WERE YOUNG (90 PERCENT BELOW AGE 40, WITH 40.5 PERCENT IN THE 20 TO 30 AGE RANGE), UNMARRIED (75 PERCENT) AT THE TIME OF ARREST, BLACK (60 PERCENT) MALES, LIMITED IN FORMAL ACADEMIC TRAINING (OVER 75 PERCENT HIGH-SCHOOL DROPOUTS), LACKING MARKETABLE VOCATIONAL SKILLS (71.75 PERCENT UNSKILLED), AND OFTEN UNEMPLOYED. NEARLY 72 PERCENT OF THE SAMPLE HAD POLICE RECORDS CONSISTING OF AT LEAST 1 AND AS MANY AS 15 PRIOR ARRESTS; A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF PREVIOUS CHARGES INVOLVED SEXUAL OFFENSES. MORE THAN 40 PERCENT OF THE SUBJECTS WERE REARED IN A HOME WHERE ONE PARENT, USUALLY THE FATHER, WAS NOT PRESENT, AND IN ABOUT 67 PERCENT OF THE CASES, THERE WERE OTHER SIBLINGS. MANY OF THE SUBJECTS REPORTED ALCOHOL (64.75 PERCENT) OR DRUG (57 PERCENT) USE, AND ABOUT 50 PERCENT HAD SOME CONTACT WITH A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY PRIOR TO THE STUDY. IN DETERMINING IF THE SEXUAL OFFENDERS WERE MORE DISTURBED PSYCHIATRICALLY THAN THE GENERAL OFFENDER POPULATION EXAMINED IN 1974, THE LEGAL CRITERIA USED WERE A MENTAL DEFECT OF SUCH MAGNITUDE AS TO SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIR CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND THE CHARGES PENDING AGAINST THEM OR THE COURT PROCEDURES AND THEIR ABILITY TO HELP IN THEIR OWN DEFENSE. WHEREAS ONLY 21 PERCENT OF THE OVERALL CLINIC POPULATION REQUIRED TREATMENT TO RESTORE THEM TO THE LEGAL LEVEL OF COMPETENCE, NEARLY 47 PERCENT OF THE SEX OFFENDER SAMPLE NEEDED SUCH TREATMENT. TABULAR DATA, REFERENCES, AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)