Criminally Committed Inpatients in a Residential Forensic Pre-Release Treatment Program

An exploratory investigation of the demographic, psycho-pathological, and offense characteristics of a group of forensic psychiatric patients (n = 25) in a residential treatment program was conducted. Participants were residing in the program as a transitional step to returning to the community after having been found not guilty by reason of insanity or incompetent to stand trial and having been released from a state hospital. Data were obtained by structured review of patient files, consisting of prior and current psychological, psychiatric, and psychosocial evaluations, as well as police and court records. Descriptive findings, including victim variables, are presented. The typical offender at the time of the offense was an unemployed male in his mid-30s with severely limited financial resources, a high school education, a diagnosis of schizophrenia, and a history of substance abuse. He had a record of mental health treatment, including more than one prior psychiatric hospitalization, and acted violently with the use of a weapon during the offense. Hallucinations or delusions were not necessarily involved. Select case vignettes, including offense profiles, are described. Clinical implications for risk assessment and management of psychotic offenders are discussed.