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Mentally Retarded Criminal Offenders in Denmark

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Jens Lund
Jens Lund*
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatric Demography, Aarhus Psychiatric Hospital, DK-8240 Risskov, Denmark
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Abstract

Based on data from the Danish Central Criminal Register, the total number of mentally retarded offenders serving statutory care orders on a census day decreased from 290 in 1973 to 91 in 1984. The reduction was caused by shorter sentences and a dramatic decrease in the number of sentenced borderline retarded offenders; the total number of sentences per year slightly decreased, and the number of first-time sentences was stable. Crimes of property are decreasing among this population, while violence, arson, and sexual offences are increasing. Behaviour disorder was found in 87.5% of 91 offenders serving care orders in 1984. Offensive behaviour was significantly predicted by early institutionalisation, having retarded or divorced parents of low socio-economic status, and behaviour disorder of social-aggressive type. Independent significant effects were attributed to behaviour disorder and low socioeconomic background. All predictors were closely correlated. Biological factors did not have any significant predictive value.

Type
Lecture
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 156 , Issue 5 , May 1990 , pp. 726 - 731
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1990 

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