Sociodemographic Information, Aversive and Traumatic Events, Offence-Related Characteristics, and Mental Health of Delinquent Women in Forensic-Psychiatric Care in Switzerland.

Krammer, Sandy; Eisenbarth, Hedwig; Fallegger, Carole; Liebrenz, Michael; Klecha, Dorothee (2018). Sociodemographic Information, Aversive and Traumatic Events, Offence-Related Characteristics, and Mental Health of Delinquent Women in Forensic-Psychiatric Care in Switzerland. International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology, 62(12), pp. 3815-3833. Sage 10.1177/0306624X17749638

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The present study describes a much understudied group-namely, female prisoners under forensic-psychiatric care in the German-speaking part of Switzerland-to improve understanding of their risks and their needs. Data were derived from internal databases of a Forensic-Psychiatric Service. Data were collected in the form of their sociodemographic characteristics, prevalence of aversive and traumatic events, type of offence committed, and mental health conditions. Based on a full-sample approach, a total of 1,571 files were analysed. Results reveal that two thirds of the participants were not in a stable relationship, more than half did not complete a school degree, and three quarters were without stable employment prior to their incarceration. Two thirds were mothers and about one third did not grow up with their parents. Almost half grew up with an alcohol abusing parent, about half experienced violence and/or neglect in childhood, and about a quarter of the cases sexual abuse. About 95% had a mental health diagnosis according to International Classification of Diseases-Version 10 (ICD-10), and the most prevalent mental and behavioural disorder was due to psychoactive substance abuse. The most frequent offence type was drug-related crimes. Women convicted for drug-related crimes were more likely to have an ICD-10 F1 disorder compared with those convicted for other crimes. Conversely, women with violent offences were less likely to suffer from ICD-10 F1 disorder than those who had committed nonviolent offences. Findings have implications for practitioners and policy makers, and contribute to the cycle of violence theory discussion. In conclusion, future research areas are suggested.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Legal Medicine 04 Faculty of Medicine > Service Sector > Institute of Legal Medicine > Forensic Psychiatric Services
UniBE Contributor:	Krammer, Sandy, Liebrenz, Michael, Klecha, Dorothee
Subjects:	600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
ISSN:	1552-6933
Publisher:	Sage
Language:	English
Submitter:	Antoinette Angehrn
Date Deposited:	03 Apr 2018 13:55
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 15:12
Publisher DOI:	10.1177/0306624X17749638
PubMed ID:	29284379
Uncontrolled Keywords:	aversive and traumatic events comorbidity delinquent women legal characteristics mental health
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/113961