Citation

Bouman YHA, De Ruiter C, Schene AH. Leg. Crim. Psychol. 2010; 15(2): 357-372.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, British Psychological Society, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1348/135532509X444528

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Purpose: In community-based forensic psychiatry, patients' social ties are considered as protective factor in a risk management strategy. However, it is unknown whether these ties actually assist patients to refrain from re-offending. We hypothesized a protective role for social ties in re-offending behavior.

Methods: In a sample of forensic outpatients with a personality disorder (N=55), the relationship between social ties (social contacts and participation in social institutions) and short-term self-reported re-offenses was studied within a prospective study design with a 6-month follow-up period.

Results: Our results provide evidence for a protective function of club participation. For violent re-offenses, social institutions were protective and this protective function remained, even when a patient had network members with a criminal background. Except for work-related contacts, social contacts did not provide protection.

Conclusions: The protective effect of social ties, especially club participation, on desistance from re-offending in forensic psychiatric patients merits further attention from researchers and clinicians.