Citation

Rowaert S, Vandevelde S, Lemmens G, Audenaert K. Int. J. Law Psychiatry 2017; 54: 76-82.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, De Pintelaan 185, Ghent University, Belgium. Electronic address: Kurt.Audenaert@UGent.be.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ijlp.2017.05.003

PMID

28528986

Abstract

Mentally ill offenders in Belgium can be subjected to mandated care under an "internment measure" if they are viewed as a danger to society. This study investigated how family members of mentally ill offenders experience this internment measure and view the (forensic) psychiatric treatment of their relative. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 relatives and analysed using Nvivo 11. Six different themes emerged: (1) the criminal offence and the internment measure as an additional stigma, (2) ambivalent feelings towards the judicial system, (3) prison is not the right place to be, (4) mental health support as an answer to problems, (5) fight a losing battle, and (6) while there is life there is hope. The experiences of family members indicate the need for improved treatment guidelines that allow earlier compulsory interventions to prevent crime and preferential admission to (forensic) psychiatric facilities rather than prisons. In addition, family members expressed the need for better communication from mental health professionals and the judicial system during the process and greater availability of peer support.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Family experiences; Internment measure; Mentally ill offenders