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PubMed2004

Psychosocial characteristics of criminals committing incest and other sex offenses: a survey in a Taiwanese prison.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychosocial characteristics of criminals who had committed incest or other sexual offenses. The participants, 240 criminals serving sentences for sex offenses in a Taiwanese prison, were divided into two groups: incest offenders (20.4%) and other sex offenders (79.6%). The psychosocial characteristics taken into consideration included age, parental survival, education, marital status, previous crime records, drug and alcohol abuse, diagnosed mental disorders, and victim abuse at the time of the offense. After an analysis of the data, the authors concluded that even though incest offenders showed fewer mental disorders, they needed psychiatric treatment and that this treatment should be focused not only on their mental disorder and related symptoms but especially to correct their abnormal behavior. Also, attention should be given to their psychosocial characteristics.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Criminal profiling: is there a role for the forensic psychiatrist?

Criminal profiling is a field that has gained notoriety in the mainstream consciousness, yet few people realize what it is that criminal profilers actually do and who is doing it. Suffering from a limited applied scientific literature that seems overshadowed by memoir trade books and journalistic style research, the field lacks a consensus regarding required expertise, ethics, methods of profiling, and research needs. This would seem to beg the question, why would anyone turn to a criminal profiler? After all, what would a profiler have to offer to a police investigator? This article will examine criminal profiling from the viewpoint of what it is, what it should be, and whether or not the forensic psychiatrist has a role to play in this field. The author will also argue that, of the available profiling methods, the deductive method is best suited to the training and expertise of the forensic psychiatrist.

Crime↗
PubMed2002

In cold blood: characteristics of criminal homicides as a function of psychopathy.

This study investigated the relationship between psychopathy and the characteristics of criminal homicides committed by a sample of 125 Canadian offenders. It was hypothesized that the homicides committed by psychopathic offenders would be more likely to be primarily instrumental (i.e., associated with premeditation, motivated by an external goal, and not preceded by a potent affective reaction) or "cold-blooded" in nature, whereas homicides committed by nonpsychopaths often would be "crimes of passion" associated with a high level of impulsivity/reactivity and emotionality. The results confirmed these predictions; homicides committed by psychopathic offenders were significantly more instrumental than homicides by nonpsychopaths. Nearly all (93.3%) of the homicides by psychopaths were primarily instrumental in nature compared with 48.4% of the homicides by nonpsychopaths.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Long-term validity of biological markers of psychopathy and criminal recidivism: follow-up 6-8 years after forensic psychiatric investigation.

This study is a follow-up investigation of a forensic psychiatric sub-population 6-8 years after forensic psychiatric evaluation. The aim was to examine the long-term validity of biological markers of psychopathy and antisocial behavior over time. Data on criminal records were obtained at follow-up from the National Council for Crime Prevention. Basic data included findings of psychiatric and psychological assessments, as well as values for serum triiodothyronine (T3) and free thyroxin (FT4), and platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, all obtained during the forensic psychiatric examination. Criminal recidivists at follow-up had higher serum T3 levels than non-recidivists, and much higher values than normal controls, while their levels of free T4 were lower. The T3 levels in criminal recidivists correlated to psychopathy- and aggression-related personality traits as measured by the Karolinska Scale of Personality. In violent recidivists, a remarkably high correlation was noted between T3 levels and Irritability and Detachment, traits that have previously been linked to the dopaminergic system. Stepwise multiple regression analyses confirmed the relationships of T3 levels and platelet MAO activity with personality traits in criminal recidivists. The predictive validity of biological markers of psychopathy, T3 and platelet MAO, measured during forensic psychiatric investigation, is stable over time. The results indicate chronic alterations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in this group of subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

The gender cycle of violence: comparing the effects of child abuse and neglect on criminal offending for males and females.

Despite ample evidence of the relationship between childhood maltreatment and offending, the ways in which the cycle of violence operates remain unclear. For example, feminist researchers contend that female victims are more likely to become offenders, compared to male victims, but more research is needed to substantiate this claim. Moreover, the contradictions in research findings-with retrospective research demonstrating that most offenders have histories of abuse, and prospective work indicating that the majority of victims do not become involved in crime-highlight the importance of identifying the intermediating variables that lead from maltreatment to criminality. This review summarizes investigations related to the cycle of violence, discusses the intermediating circumstances that may affect the cycle, and identifies whether or not these processes are similar for women and men.

Child↗
PubMed2002

Perinatal and childhood risk factors for later criminality and violence in schizophrenia. Longitudinal, population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with schizophrenia appear to be at increased risk for violent and criminal behaviour. Obstetric complications, neuromotor problems and intellectual deficits have variously been reported as increasing the risk for criminality in the general population. AIMS: To investigate whether such risk factors are associated with criminal behaviour in an epidemiological cohort of patients with schizophrenia. METHOD: We identified from health care registers all individuals with schizophrenia born in Helsinki between 1951 and 1960, and used the national criminal register to identify those with a criminal record by 1995. Childhood information was obtained from archived birth and school records. RESULTS: Poor educational attainment, poor grades for attention at school, higher birth weight and larger head circumference were significantly associated with the risk of criminal offending in adulthood in this sample of patients with schizophrenia. An association between labour/delivery complications and later violent offending among male patients was of borderline significance. CONCLUSIONS: Our hypotheses that birth complications and childhood neuromotor problems would increase the risk of criminal offending in schizophrenia were not upheld.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Psychiatric aspects of criminal homicide in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the Psychiatric aspects of homicide in Nigeria, and, the psychosocial and forensic background of homicide offenders in Nigeria; to determine the role of the mental health services in the disposal of the accused by the criminal justice system. DESIGN: Retrospective study, involving interview of homicide convicts and, the scrutiny of court and prison documents for relevant clinico-forensic data. SETTING: Federal Prison, Jos, Nigeria. RESULTS: One hundred and eighteen subjects participated in the study. Psychotic disorder (mainly paranoid schizophrenia) and alcohol intoxication accounted for the offenses of 28 (24%) accused. Amnesia for the events occurred in psychotic offenders. Psychiatric services were underutilised in the trial and disposal of the accused. Marked psychosocial maladjustment in offenders was suggested by a high rate (45%) of substance use disorders predating the homicide events. Thirty three (28%) offenders had dysfunctional family circumstances. Eighty six per cent of the accused were first time offenders. Adverse life events, predominantly in relation to the victims, were reported by 33 (28%) of the accused in the month predating the events. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric disorders and substance use are significantly involved in homicide events in Nigeria. There is a need for close liaison between the psychiatric and criminal justice systems, in the disposal of all homicide accused. A continuing study of homicide in Nigeria is recommended, to bridge the gap in our present level of knowledge.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

The Criminal Sentiments Scale: predictive validity in a sample of violent and sex offenders.

This study investigated the predictive validity of the Criminal Sentiments Scale (CSS: Gendreau, Grant, Leipciger, & Collins, 1979) within a sample of violent and sex offenders using conviction and failure on conditional release as the criterion variables. The CSS was completed by 130 male offenders (65 sex offenders and 65 violent offenders) commencing a sentence of greater than two years in a Canadian federal institution. Average time at risk for the sample was 16 months. Arrest and conviction rates for violent offenders and sex offenders were 24.6% and 13.8% respectively, overall failure on release resulting in reincarceration was 41.5% and 18.5% respectively. The results showed no relationship between the CSS and recidivism or release failure. Implications for clinical use among this population of offenders are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Microbial forensics for natural and intentional incidents of infectious disease involving animals.

Microbial forensics is a relatively new scientific discipline dedicated to analysing microbiological evidence from a crime for attribution purposes. It builds on traditional microbiology and epidemiology but within a legal framework. Important motives for forensic investigations include interdiction of criminals, prosecution of justice, and ideally, deterrence of others from committing similar acts. Forensic capabilities in animal health should focus on building capacity for detection and reporting of increases in infectious disease morbidity and mortality among animals that might reflect a covert release of a pathogen. Suspicion should be raised when epidemiological patterns are different from those expected for the animal population and the pathogen in question. Existing capacities for the detection and reporting of epidemic and even endemic diseases should be an international priority for the prevention of catastrophic losses in animal and potentially in human life. The veterinary community needs to be more aware of the legal requirements related to forensic investigations so that veterinarians will be prepared to handle evidence properly within their own fields.

Animal Diseases↗
PubMed2005

Mapping the criminal mind: idiographic assessment of criminal belief systems.

An idiographic procedure designed to assess the belief systems of criminal offenders is described, investigated, and clarified. This measure, the Cognitive Map of Major Belief Systems (CMMBS), assesses the five belief systems (self-view, world-view, past-view, present-view, future-view) held to occupy the higher echelons of human cognition. Modest to moderate test-retest reliability was achieved when 19 inmates, enrolled in one of three drug-counseling groups, completed the CMMBS on two separate occasions, 2 weeks apart. It was also ascertained that the drug treatment specialist who served as therapist for all three groups "blindly" matched the 19 CMMBS records to the inmates who produced them. A case study of one of the 19 participants was used to illustrate how the CMMBS is employed with individual offenders and how belief systems interact with major schematic subnetworks such as attributions, outcome expectancies, efficacy expectancies, goals, values, and thinking styles to create crime-supporting lifestyles.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Blood zinc and copper concentrations in criminal and noncriminal schizophrenic men.

This study investigated the effects of zinc and copper on the behavior of schizophrenic patients by comparing blood zinc and copper levels in criminal and noncriminal schizophrenic patients. Of the total 88 subjects, 44 were patients with schizophrenia and no criminal record who were being treated at the Elazig Mental Hospital and 44 were schizophrenic patients who had committed a crime and were sent to the same hospital upon a court order for monitoring, detention, and treatment. Of the subjects with criminal records, 31 (70%) had committed a violent crime and 13 (30%) had committed a nonviolent crime. The mean plasma zinc value was 68 +/- 1.55 microg/dL in the criminal subjects and 81 +/- 2.73 microg/dL in the noncriminal subjects ( p = .001). The mean serum copper value was 104 +/- 1.80 microg/dL in criminal subjects and 93 +/- 2.92 microg/dL in noncriminal subjects (p = .02). Mean plasma zinc values were significantly lower in criminal subjects when compared to noncriminal subjects, while mean serum copper values were significantly higher in criminal subjects than noncriminal subjects.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Suicide in custody: case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Few risk factors and indicators of vulnerability for suicide in custody are known so far. AIMS: A case-control study was conducted to investigate the relevance of criminal history, psychiatric morbidity and social integration to suicide in prison. METHOD: For every suicide that occurred in an Austrian correctional institution between 1975 and 1999, two controls matched for correctional institution, gender, nationality, age, custodial status and time of admission were selected. Psychiatric characteristics, previous suicidal behaviour, criminal history and indicators of social integration were compared. RESULTS: Of 250 recorded suicides, 220 personal files were available and matched to 440 controls. The most important predictors for suicide in custody were a history of suicidality (status following attempted suicide and suicide threat), psychiatric diagnosis, psychotropic medication, a highly violent index offence and single- cell accommodation. CONCLUSIONS: A significant finding is the importance of suicidal behaviour as an indicator of risk of suicide in correctional institutions, which until now has been a matter of debate. This study demonstrates the need for staff to take suicidal behaviour as seriously in custodial settings as in any other circumstances.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Difficulties in forensic medical evaluation of some forms of craniocerebral injury].

Conclusions of 41 repeated expert evaluations of craniocerebral injuries within the framework of criminal and civil cases investigation are analyzed. Some aspects of clinical and forensic medical diagnosis of lethal and nonlethal injuries to the head, evaluation of the quality of medical care, and qualification of the severity of harm to health are discussed. Causes of typical expert errors and approaches to their prevention are shown.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

From dust to dust: ethical and practical issues involved in the location, exhumation, and identification of bodies from mass graves.

There are many potential purposes served by the investigation of human remains: criminal fact-finding, archaeological exploration, forensic research, and others. This paper focuses on the identification of remains from mass graves to find missing persons. The primary goal of such efforts is to honor the memory of the dead by bringing closure to living family members, thus supporting the human rights of both the living and the deceased. Cultures, customs, political, and interpersonal specifics will vary, but that singular goal should remain the central guiding principle. This article presents ethical and practical issues resulting from efforts to locate, exhume, and identify the remains of mass fatalities.

Burial↗
PubMed1991

[Age determination of living probands--experiences from Hannover studies].

Since 1982 we examined 26 living human beings in our institute to determine their age. Two third of all cases were children of gipsy-clans being arrested without exception after theft and having no or false identity cards, so that the authorities were not sure about the use of either of juvenile or adult criminal law. Besides other investigations best results were obtained by X-ray examinations of the teeth, the shoulder and the hand and wrist. In consideration of the limitations by the used scientific methods we were able to determine age in all cases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Frequency distribution and discrimination probability of twelve protein genetic variants in human blood as functions of race, sex, and age.

Fresh blood samples were obtained from 6004 whites, 1025 blacks, 1596 Chicano/Amerindians, and 3053 Asians of California and Hawaii. The samples were typed for ABO and Rh groups and were analyzed electrophoretically for ten genetically determined protein variant systems. The effects of race, age, and sex on phenotypic frequencies within each of the twelve genetic systems were investigated. Large frequency differences were found between races but not between different age and sex subgroups within races. It was also demonstrated that the twelve genetic systems behaved statistically independently. Discrimination probabilities were computed for each of the four ethnic groups. These serve as a measure of the effectiveness of the twelve genetic systems examined in individualizing blood samples. The method is discussed for computing the probability that a randomly chosen individual of a given ethnic group possesses the same blood phenotypes as found in a predetermined sample of blood. The results presented here should prove useful in the investigation of civil and criminal cases involving blood samples.

ABO Blood-Group System↗
PubMed2005

[A questionnaire survey on judgment of criminal responsibility].

The authors conducted questionnaire surveys utilizing model cases with the aim of investigating the current views of psychiatrists regarding criminal responsibility judgments in forensic psychiatric evaluations. Six model cases-injury by a person with acute schizophrenia, indecent assault by a person with chronic schizophrenia, attempted murder by a woman with depression, arson by an alcohol abuser, burglary by an amphetamine abuser, rape and indecent assault by a person with personality disorder-were presented to 345 psychiatrists, who were asked about criminal responsibility and appropriate treatment for each of the cases. One hundred eighty-five of the psychiatrists responded. In the case of acute schizophrenia with hallucination and delusion, the case of severe depression, and the personality disorder case, there was a high level of agreement between the evaluations of criminal responsibility made by the different respondents, but in the case of chronic schizophrenia, the case of alcohol-induced psychotic disorder, and the case of amphetamine abuse, there were variations in the evaluation of criminal responsibility, with many respondents emphasizing the patient's symptoms and condition at the time of the offense, and relatively few emphasizing whether the disorder was endogenous. Regarding the form of treatment, many of the respondents recommended compulsory hospitalization for the case of acute schizophrenia with hallucination and delusion, while at the same time recommending treatment in a prison environment for the personality disorder case. In contrast, for the case of chronic schizophrenia and the case of alcohol-induced psychotic disorder, opinion was divided as to whether the subject should be handled with a medical or a judicial approach. Regarding treatment for the case of alcohol-induced psychotic disorder and the case of amphetamine abuse, there was a tendency to make a judgment based on the subject's condition at the point of psychiatric evaluation, which was not necessarily linked to the criminal responsibility.

Adult↗