Citation

Dandawate A, Kalebic N, Padfield N, Craissati J, Taylor PJ. Behav. Sci. Law 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/bsl.2428

PMID

31679173

Abstract

Expressing remorse - or not - appears to influence criminal justice outcomes, but preliminary exploration of both judicial and psychological concepts suggests they lack clarity. We asked the following questions: does psychosis impair capacity for, or expression of, remorse for a homicide or other serious harm to others? Is failure to express remorse for an offence associated with recidivism? We conducted systematic reviews of empirical literature on remorse for serious violence while psychotic, and on relationships between remorse and reoffending regardless of mental state. No articles on remorse for homicide or other serious violence while psychotic were identified. There is weak evidence that lack of remorse is associated with reoffending generally, but nothing specific to psychosis. The literature is strong enough to support a case for research into valid measurement of remorse for offending, associations of such measures with recidivism, and whether a change in remorse can be effected - or matters. It is not strong enough to support reliance on perceptions of the presence or absence of remorse as a basis for judicial decisions.

© 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Language: en