SPECIFIC CRIMINOLOGICAL METHODS FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC RECORDING OF THE OFFENDER IN HIS SOCIAL INTERDEPENDENCIES AND FOR PROGNOSTIC STATEMENTS ON HIS SOCIAL DANGEROUSNESS (FROM HUMAN AGGRESSION... - SEE NCJ-57490)

• NCJ Number: 57490
• Author(s): H GOEPPINGER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 29 pages
• Corporate Author: Institut Philippe Pinel de Montreal 12
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

WEST GERMAN RESEARCH INTO METHODS OF ASSESSING THE SOCIAL DANGEROUSNESS OF INDIVIDUAL OFFENDERS AND PLANNING THEIR TREATMENT IS PRESENTED.

Abstract

SOCIAL DANGEROUSNESS REFERS NOT TO VIOLENT OR AGGRESSIVE TENDENCIES, BUT TO THE PROBABILITY OF RECIDIVISM. THE RESEARCH BEGAN WITH A COMPARISON OF THE SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS AND SITUATIONS OF 200 YOUNG MALE OFFENDERS (AGE 20 TO 30) AND 250 NONOFFENDERS, AND OF RECIDIVISTS AND NONRECIDIVISTS WITHIN THE OFFENDER GROUP. THE DIFFERENCES FOUND AMONG THE GROUPS SERVED AS A FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DIAGNOSTIC TOOL TO BE USED IN ASSESSING THE NATURE AND DEGREE OF SOCIAL DANGEROUSNESS PRESENT IN INDIVIDUAL OFFENDERS. THE ASSESSMENT STRATEGY BEING DEVELOPED TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THREE ASPECTS OF EACH OFFENDERS'S SOCIAL INTERDEPENDENCIES: THE 'CRIMINORELEVANT CONSTELLATIONS' OF THE OFFENDERS'S LIFE (IN LIGHT OF COMPARISON STUDY FINDINGS), THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE OFFENDER'S CRIME IN THE CONTEXT OF HIS OWN LIFE, AND THE OFFENDER'S RELEVANT 'BINDINGS'--THE PERSONAL, MATERIAL, AND OTHER ATTACHMENTS THAT ARE MOST IMPORTANT TO HIM IN HIS DAILY LIFE. THIS THREE-PART STRATEGY PRODUCES A COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE OF THE OFFENDER'S SOCIAL DANGEROUSNESS AND TREATMENT NEEDS. A 6-YEAR FOLLOWUP OF 32 SUBJECTS TO WHOM THE ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE WAS APPLIED ENCOURAGED RESEARCHERS TO CONTINUE IN THE SAME VEIN. A DETAILED CASE STUDY ILLUSTRATES HOW THE ASSESSMENT STRATEGY WORKS, THE TYPES OF DATA IT REQUIRES, AND THE USES OF ASSESSMENT FINDINGS IN TREATMENT PLANNING. (LKM)