Citation

Manguno‐Mire GM, Thompson JW, Bertman‐Pate LJ, Burnett DR, Thompson HW. Behav. Sci. Law 2007; 25(1): 43-55.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/bsl.724

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

We conducted a retrospective review of factors involved in clinical recommendations for release of patients adjudicated not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI). Medical records from 91 patients in a maximum security forensic hospital who participated in a formal hearing process to determine suitability for release were reviewed. The purpose of the study was twofold: (1) to examine the process involved in day to day clinical decision-making regarding release from a maximum security forensic hospital and (2) to determine what factors in a patient's clinical and legal history were related to recommendation decisions. Multivariate statistical methods revealed that among the clinical, demographic, and legal information available to clinicians at the time a formal release recommendation was made two factors emerged that were significantly related to release recommendations: PCL-R score and the age at which the patient committed his first criminal offense. Patients with high levels of psychopathy and those who engaged in criminal behavior at a younger age were less likely to be recommended for release from a maximum security forensic hospital. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.