Specific mental disorders and crime

Specific mental disorders and crime
Psychopathic disorder
· in the Mental Health Act 1983 of England and Wales, the term psychopathic
disorder is employed and defined as a ‘persistent disorder or disability of mind
(whether or not including significant impairment of intelligence), which results in
abnormally aggressive or seriously irresponsible conduct’
· if a compulsory order is to be made on the grounds of psychopathy, then the Act
requires there to be evidence that treatment ‘is likely to alleviate or prevent a
deterioration of (the patient’s) condition’ as well as the requirement ‘that it is
necessary for the health and safety of the patient, or the protection of other persons’
· there is an increased likelihood of other psychiatric symptoms and disorders
· homicide risk is increased 10x in someone with an antisocial personality disorder
Alcohol dependence
· alcohol and crime are related in 3 important ways:
1. alcohol intoxication may lead to charges related to public drunkenness or to
driving offences
2. intoxication reduces inhibitions and is strongly associated with crimes of
violence, including murder
3. the neuropsychiatric complications of alcoholism may also be linked with
crime
Drug dependence
· offences against property are associated with the need to pay for drugs
· rates of drug abuse are increased among prisoners
Mental retardation
· about 1 % of the prison population are mentally retarded
· most offences committed by those in the borderline to mild ranges of learning
disability
· the mentally retarded are more likely to be caught
· they may commit offences because they do not understand the implications of their
behaviour, or they are susceptible to exploitation by others
· the closest association between mental retardation and crime is a high incidence of
sexual offences, especially indecent exposure by males
· the exposer is often known to the victim
· there is also said to be an association between MR and arson
· other associations:
· low socioeconomic status
· family history of criminality
· social disadvantage
· cerebral abnormality
· history of behavioural disorder as a child
· minor physical abnormality
· gullibility
· lack of self control