Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health最新文献

Background: In England and Wales, the primary treatments for individuals convicted of sexual offences are psychological. However, medication to manage problematic sexual arousal (MMPSA) is gaining importance as an alternative. This article reviews the current evidence surrounding the MMPSA approach.

Aim: This paper synthesises challenges encountered, advancements achieved and learnings accumulated over 16 years of the MMPSA treatment pathway from 2009 to 2025 in England and Wales.

Methods: Drawing on a programme of mixed-methods research, including cohort studies, case studies, qualitative interviews with patients and professionals and implementation evaluations, this paper seeks to bring together key findings to present a consolidated picture of the research on the MMPSA pathway to date. The focus is on synthesising findings and identifying implications for service delivery.

Results: Evaluations of treatment outcomes showed promising results regarding the effectiveness of the MMPSA service. Qualitative analyses and case studies provided insightful details regarding patient and staff concerns that may hinder the efficiency and reach of the treatment pathway. Research with community clinicians highlighted issues regarding the 'off-label' use of medication for this purpose.

Conclusions: The MMPSA treatment service is available in a limited number of prisons in England and Wales. Supported by promising service evaluations and existing literature, a larger population could benefit from MMPSA treatment. Furthermore, the MMPSA service would benefit from improvements to create smoother transitions for individuals leaving prison and entering the community, and it should ideally be expanded to ensure that those in the community can also access the MMPSA service.

Aims: This article examines how offenders with mental disorders are managed within Brunei Darussalam's dual criminal procedure system, which operates through both common law and Sharī'ah frameworks. It seeks to identify the structural and procedural difficulties that arise at the intersection of mental health, criminal responsibility, and religiously grounded legal principles, and to advance practical and doctrinal reforms suited to Brunei's institutional context.

Methods: The study adopts a doctrinal and comparative approach, analysing the Criminal Procedure Code, Mental Health Act 2014, Sharī'ah Court Criminal Procedure Code, and Sharī'ah Courts Evidence Order 2001. Provisions concerning fitness to plead, insanity, detention, consent to treatment, confidentiality, and expert testimony are examined alongside Islamic jurisprudential concepts such as taklīf (moral accountability) and maqāṣid al-Sharī'ah (the higher objectives of Islamic law). Comparative reference is made to England and Wales to illuminate structural contrasts.

Results: Four interconnected challenges emerge. First, the absence of specialist forensic psychiatric facilities restricts assessment and diversion options and limits compulsory treatment pathways. Second, the Sharī'ah criminal process lacks a dedicated internal mechanism for psychiatric evaluation. Third, statutory safeguards governing detention review and treatment consent remain underdeveloped. Fourth, the absence of a recognised forensic psychiatry specialty and clear guidance on expert admissibility generates uncertainty, particularly in religiously sensitive cases.

Conclusion and implications: While both legal traditions recognise impaired mental capacity as relevant to criminal liability, effective implementation is constrained by institutional fragmentation. The article proposes coordinated legislative reform, development of forensic psychiatric capacity, structured expert witness guidance, strengthened procedural safeguards, and the establishment of a national advisory framework to ensure a coherent, rights-compliant, and culturally grounded approach to mentally disordered offenders in Brunei.

Background: Police interview interpreting often requires conveying emotionally charged content. Although interpreters are expected to maintain neutrality, exposure to such material may heighten empathy and increase vulnerability to vicarious trauma. Few empirical studies have examined how empathy levels change during simulated police interview interpreting, particularly among interpreter trainees.

Aims: This study explored whether exposure to emotionally charged information in a simulated police interview affects interpreters' empathy levels. Specific questions were: (1) are empathy scores significantly different after interpreting than before and (2) what kind of emotionally charged information in police interview contributes to this change.

Methods: A mixed-methods design was adopted with 25 postgraduate interpreter trainees. Participants completed the basic empathy scale (BES) immediately before and after interpreting a simulated police interview containing emotionally charged material. Quantitative data were analysed using paired-samples t-tests. In addition, three randomly selected participants took part in semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically.

Results: Mean overall empathy scores increased significantly after the simulation, from a mean of 3.2 (SD 1.0) to 4.0 (SD 0.9; p < 0.001). Subscale analysis indicated that this increase was driven by affective empathy (means pre: 3.1, post 4.4; p < 0.001); cognitive empathy showed no significant change. Thematic analysis of interview data suggested three interrelated mechanisms underlying empathy change: (1) emotional contagion from the suspect's distress, (2) ethical conflicts between neutrality and personal moral response and (3) personal identification with the suspect's circumstances.

Conclusions: Interpreting emotionally charged material in simulated police interviews significantly heightens interpreters' affective empathy. Whereas this may support engagement, it also poses risks of emotional strain and vicarious trauma if sustained over time. These findings highlight the need for interpreter training to integrate emotional regulation strategies, and structured support systems. Future research should extend to professional interpreters and examine long-term effects of repeated exposure in real-world legal contexts.

Background: Prospective associations between distinctive offender trajectory groups and early health indicators have been quite well studied, but health in middle adulthood much less so.

Aims: To test associations between membership of distinctive offender trajectory groups and physical and mental health at age 37/38 years, controlling for baseline risks and earlier health indicators.

Methods: Longitudinal data from the Oregon Youth Study (OYS) were used, yielding a community living sample of 206 men aged 37/38 years. The OYS is a study of boys aged 9/10 years on study entry and from high-crime areas, followed from 1983/4 to the present. For the study reported here, annual counts of arrests and periods of imprisonment were derived from court records. Self-report and objective measurements provided indicators of physical (general physical health, cardiovascular health, body mass index, traumatic injury) and mental (hostility/aggression, psychosis, depression, attention problems, social problems) health at age 37/38 years.

Results: Heterogeneity in latent group-based arrest trajectories was modelled using semiparametric group-based modelling and yielded three groups: 141 (69%) rare offenders, 43 (22%) low-level chronic offenders and 19 (9%) high-level chronic offenders. High-level and low-level chronic offenders showed significantly poorer mental (but not physical) health at ages 37/38 compared to rare offenders. Unexpectedly, few health differences emerged between the lower- and higher-level repeat offender groups. Child body mass index significantly predicted middle adulthood body mass index, regardless of offending trajectory.

Conclusions: Distinctive offender trajectory groups are not associated with physical health indicators in middle adulthood, but they are associated with a subset of indicators of mental ill-health at age 37/38, suggesting a need for greater investment in resources to address mental health problems for men showing chronic offending; this may even help prevent recidivism.

Background: In most countries, a criminal conviction requires evidence that the individual committed the act and that they had the mental capacity to understand what they were doing and that it was wrong. Youth, as an indicator of brain development, is one factor affecting criminal capacity. Worldwide, this has commonly been managed in part by setting in law an age below which criminal incapacity is presumed, so no prosecution is possible. Considerable variation in the MACR was confirmed across 195 countries. Some countries have no MACR. Otherwise, the MACR ranges from 7 years (some African and South Asian countries) to 18 (some South American countries); many North Asian, European and a few African countries set theirs at 14 which is the most frequently found level, and also the minimum age recommended by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Therefore, how do countries set or change their MACR?

Aims: To explore change, efforts to change and impact of change in MACR internationally.

Methods: Between February 1st 2022 and December 31st 2023, members of an international research group (GIRAF-Group of International Researchers in Adolescent Forensics) were asked to complete an emailed questionnaire about changes in the MACR, or efforts to change it, in their country since 2000. Reports were then collated, circulated and discussed within the group.

Results: Among the 14 countries responding in detail about the MACR, efforts to raise the MACR had been successful in three, but in nine such efforts had been unsuccessful; in at least two countries pressures were to lower their MACR, but in only one, Denmark, did that happen (from 15 to 14) in the data collection period (though this change was subsequently reversed). Factors most influencing retention of a lower age were exceptional individual cases, which triggered press and political interest in retaining a higher age, and well-evidenced and developed arguments from legal, social and medical or other clinical bodies.

Conclusions and implications: The wide differences in the MACR between countries suggest under-use of evidence in deciding it. We need more governmental willingness to bring the MACR at least to the UN-recommended level-but accompanied by research into the impact of this. Efforts targeted exclusively on child and adolescent welfare may have less effect if they also force children through the criminal justice system, with consequent impact on self-identity and sense of citizenship. A low MACR is also likely to be more directly and indirectly costly than a higher one.

Background: Life expectancy is increasing globally. A substantial expected rise in older age groups in the population is reflected in prisons, but focus on elderly offenders remains limited compared to other age groups. This is of concern, as cognitive impairments are often present among elderly offenders, possibly affecting their behaviour, criminal responsibility and responsiveness to treatment.

Aims: The objective of this study was to explore the associations between various cognitive variables, neurological diagnosis and different types of crime by offenders of 60 years or older.

Methods: In this retrospective records-based clinical study, we used the reports about adult defendants who underwent a full forensic psychiatric evaluation at the request of the court to assess criminal responsibility for serious crime. Individuals aged 60 and over were included, resulting in a sample of 81 persons, just seven of them women. A homogeneity analysis (HOMALS) was conducted to examine the possibility of classifying such people according to cognitive and offence status.

Results: Nearly two-thirds of these people under criminal charges had some evidence of cognitive impairment. Three main neurocognitive groups were apparent: those with clear cognitive deficiencies, and usually a clinical diagnosis of dementia, those with some cognitive impairment and those with equivocal or not cognitive impairment. The first group was older and most likely to have violence charge(s), the second to be characterised by both violent and sexual charge(s) and the third more various offending, albeit including violence.

Conclusions: This first study of detailed neurocognitive assessment of older people under trial for a serious criminal offence indicates that it is important for older people charged with offences to have sound cognitive assessment, in their interests, and for planning effective management of risk of any further offending. Future studies should investigate relationships between cognitive problems and type of crime in a larger and perhaps more varied group.

Background: Prior research indicates that mental health court graduates are more likely to be successful post-participation compared to non-completers. Therefore, it is important to understand factors associated with completion. Prior research indicates mixed results and often does not use multi-site samples, rather relying only on individual courts.

Aims: The present study examines demographic factors (race, sex and age), sociogenic factors (employment, education and housing) and criminal justice system factors (risk score, time spent in the programme and charge type) in relation to the odds of graduation from mental health courts across Texas.

Method: I used a logistic regression model to examine administrative data from 996 mental health court participants, collected by the court staff between 2016 and 2023.

Results: Hispanic participants were more likely to graduate than White participants. Those with less education, who were unemployed, and did not have permanent housing were less likely to succeed. Those who had higher recidivism risk scores were also less likely to graduate. Participant sex, age and charge type were not related to graduation status.

Conclusion: These findings help clarify the mixed prior literature surrounding the impact of race on graduation from mental health courts at least in these seven courts in Texas. Findings underscore the importance of education, employment and housing on success in mental health courts even though some prior studies do not find these factors to be associated with graduation. Texas programmes should work to improve the status of participants in these areas as they seem particularly salient in this context. Future research should be done to understand if findings would generalise outside of Texas.

Background: Previous studies have identified high rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism in incarcerated populations. Despite such findings and the potential benefits of screening for undiagnosed autism and ADHD at earlier stages of police contact, such efforts are rare.

Aims: To screen arrested individuals for ADHD and autistic traits while in police custody.

Methods: Over an 8-week period, individuals arrested and detained at six police custody centres in London, UK, were offered screening for ADHD and autistic traits. ADHD traits were assessed using a modified version of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) and autistic traits using the 10-item Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ-10). Screening was carried out in person at the custody site by a healthcare professional, designated detention officer or arresting police officer. Individuals who screened above the thresholds (≥ 21 for ASRS, ≥ 6 for AQ-10) were informed and provided additional information on how to seek a formal diagnosis.

Results: Of 303 eligible arrestees, 216 (71.3%) consented to screening. The screening tools identified 50% and 5% of arrestees without an existing diagnosis as warranting further assessment for ADHD and autism, respectively. ADHD and autism trait scores were correlated (r = 0.30, p < 0.01). Nearly 60% of individuals arrested for drug offences had an existing diagnosis or positive screening result for ADHD.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest high rates of ADHD and autistic traits in arrestees, particularly among individuals arrested for drug offences. Screening for ADHD and autism at early stages of police contact could serve as a key opportunity to identify undiagnosed individuals and inform appropriate management.

Background: A considerable body of existing literature has shown links between critical thinking, moral reasoning and violence or risk of violence. Still, the psychological processes through which these deficits translate into violent behaviour remain unclear. Emerging evidence suggests that cognitive distortions may be key mechanisms, yet these pathways have rarely been tested in severe offender samples.

Aims: To examine whether cognitive distortions-specifically emotional suppression and abundant thoughts-mediate the associations between critical thinking, moral reasoning and the risk of violent behaviour.

Methods: Participants, all men, were recruited from one prison for the homicide and other violent offender groups and from the broader community for the nonviolent comparison group. Consenting participants completed standardised measures of critical thinking, moral reasoning, cognitive distortions and violence risk. Mediation analyses were then conducted to examine whether cognitive distortions accounted for the associations between reasoning abilities and violent behaviour.

Results: The final sample was of 57 men convicted of homicide, 60 of nonfatal violence and 59 wider-community-living men with no criminal history. Noncriminal men showed the highest critical thinking and moral reasoning scores, followed by violent offenders, with homicide offenders lowest. Cognitive distortions showed the reverse pattern and were strongest among homicide offenders. Stronger reasoning abilities were associated with lower violence risk, whereas greater distortions were associated with greater risk. Mediation analyses indicated that emotional suppression and abundant thoughts partly explained the associations between lower reasoning skills and both past severe violence and estimated future violence risk.

Conclusions: This study shows that emotional suppression and abundant thoughts are central mechanisms linking weaker critical and moral reasoning to violence risk, advancing prior work by identifying how these deficits translate into violent behaviour. Demonstrating these pathways in a homicide offender sample provides new evidence that cognitive distortions are crucial intervention targets. Strengthening reasoning skills alongside reducing distortion-based thinking may therefore help lower violence and recidivism.