NCJ Number
62778
Date Published
1979
Length
28 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF A SERIES OF STUDIES CONDUCTED BY THE HOME OFFICE RESEARCH UNIT REGARDING LIFE-SENTENCE MALE PRISONERS IN ENGLAND AND WALES ARE DISCUSSED; PRISON POPULATION, VICTIMS, AND MENTAL HEALTH ARE EMPHASIZED.
Abstract
THE LIFE-SENTENCE PRISON POPULATION IN ENGLAND AND WALES GREW FROM 133 ON 1957 TO 1,220 IN 1977. IN PART, THE INCREASE HAS BEEN CAUSED BY THE ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. IN ADDITION, THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE ANNUAL INTAKE OF CONVICTED MURDERERS FROM 29 IN 1956 TO 113 IN 1976. FURTHER FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO POPULATION GROWTH INCLUDE THE INCREASED USE OF LIFE SENTENCES FOR OFFENSES NOT INVOLVING HOMICIDE AND INTRODUCTION OF A CRIME OF DIMINISHED RESPONSIBILITY MANSLAUGHTER WHICH DIVERTED CASES FROM MENTAL HOSPITALS TO PRISONS. OTHER STUDIES SHOWED THAT REPRIEVE WAS A SELECTIVE PROCESS INFLUENCED BY MANY FACTORS OF WHICH VICTIM-TYPE AND DIAGNOSIS WERE THE MOST IMPORTANT. REPRIEVE WAS COMPARATIVELY UNLIKELY FOR MEN WHOSE CRIME INVOLVED THEFT OR SEXUAL OFFENSES BUT LIKELY FOR KILLERS OF THEIR OWN CHILDREN OR FOR MEN WHOSE CRIME OCCURRED IN A QUARREL AFTER DRINKING. A SMALL-SCALE STUDY WHICH INVOLVED INTERVIEWING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING OF LIFERS REVEALED SOME CHANGES IN ATTITUDE AND PERSONALITY BUT NO GENERAL INSTITUTIONALIZATION SYNDROME OF THE KIND REPORTED OCCURRING IN MENTAL HOSPITALS. A WIDE VARIETY OF DIFFERENT STYLES WERE ADOPTED BY THE MEN IN ORDER TO COPE WITH THEIR SENTENCES. OVER 40 PERCENT OF THE LIFE-SENTENCE PRISONERS HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED AS DISORDERED MENTALLY BY DATE OF CONVICTION. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED IN THE CHAPTER. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED-LWM)