Hospital order for mentally disordered offenders

บทคัดย่อ

Objective The purposes of this study were to determine criminal behaviors patterns, clinical diagnosis and to compare clinical features of a new after discharged care program to that of the regular program for the mentally disordered offenders under a hospital order.

Materials and methods The sample was consisted of 35 mentally disordered offenders sent by the court under a hospital order refer to the section 48 of Criminal Code. They were discharged during 1st October 2001 to 30th September 2007. Data were collected from medical records of Galya Rajanagarindra Institute. Quantitative data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics and chi-square test.

Results Most of the samples, convicted to life and body-harm offenses which were taken places at houses and in the communities. The used weapons were knives. Their motivated to crime were psychosis symptoms with no planning. Most of the victims were acquaintances who had no active participation. Three quarters were diagnosed of schizophrenia. After these patients were discharged to the community, more than half were readmitted but only one was recidivist. Most could access to mental health services regularly. There was not statistical different between clinical features of the new after discharged care program and that of the regular one.

Conclusion The new after discharged care program showed that more than half of cases were readmitted but only one case for recidivist. Most patients could access to mental health services regularly. The new program did not differ from the previous one, therefore, the new program need to be revised.