Violent Recidivism of Mentally Disordered Offenders

TLDR

The study examines the practical application of a 12‑variable actuarial instrument for assessing dangerousness in mentally disordered offenders. Using multivariate techniques, researchers derived and validated the instrument from a heterogeneous sample of 618 men, half treated in maximum‑security psychiatric institutions and the remainder briefly assessed before imprisonment. The instrument significantly predicted violent post‑release offenses across each of five offender subgroups.

Abstract

Multivariate techniques were used to derive and validate an actuarial instrument for the prediction of violent postrelease offenses by mentally disordered offenders. The 618 subjects were a heterogeneous group of men who had been charged with serious offenses. Approximately half had been treated in a maximum security psychiatric institution and the rest had been briefly assessed prior to imprisonment. The actuarial instrument consisted of 12 variables and significantly predicted violent outcome in each of five subgroups. The instrument's practical application and its use in clinical appraisals of dangerousness are discussed.