Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2005. / Advisor: Dr. Joyce L. Carbonell, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Psychology. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 15, 2005). Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 83 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 109-116) Also available in print.

One aim of residential drug treatment programs for drug offenders released from prison is to reduce recidivism rates for these offenders. However, research on this topic has shown mixed results on the effectiveness of such programs, and all of the factors that influence whether an individual will recidivate are still unclear. This study explored the relationship between criminal classification levels of drug offenders and the length of time spent in residential treatment and the effects that this relationship had on drug offenders' odds of recidivism. Data from case history records of drug-involved offenders in Florida from 1991 to 1997 were analyzed to determine whether the length of time in treatment reduced these offenders' odds of recidivism, whether offenders convicted of a felony 1 level offense were more or less likely to recidivate compared to those convicted of a felony 2 or 3 level offense, and whether there was an interaction effect of length of time in treatment and criminal classification level on offenders' odds of recidivism. Binary logistic regression analysis shows that the more time a drug offender spends in residential treatment, the higher the offender's odds of recidivism; drug offenders convicted of a felony 1 level offense were less likely to recidivate than offenders convicted of a felony 2 or 3 level offense; and that there was no interaction effect of length of time spent in treatment and criminal classification level on drug offenders' odds of recidivism. / Master of Science

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A certain percentage of young offenders are re-incarcerated after their first offence and they land back in jail to serve a further sentence. This implies that they could not find their feet back in society once they have been released and it signifies failure on the part of the correctional authorities to rehabilitate the young offenders successfully. Recidivism is a complicated phenomenon which is not easy to deal with as the correctional institutions often have no control over the circumstances outside the prison walls affecting the young offender. The overall goal of this research was to establish the circumstances leading to the re-arrest of the young offender in the Kroonstad Youth Centre in order to adjust the rehabilitation programmes if necessary. The data was collected by means of a focus group consisting of young offenders who have been re-arrested after the first offence. The young offenders could not accurately identify the circumstances leading to their re-arrests, but they could give an indication of the family and community circumstances under which they must live. This ranged from unstable family life to community conditions not conducive to their adjustment. It was also found that the lack of support in the form of outside NGO's to assist them with their adjustment once they left prison was a serious shortcoming. It was recommended that intervention with the youth offenders should be focused on teaching skills that will help them to adjust in the community after their release. It was also recommended that families be trained on how to deal with the behaviour of the youths who has violated the law. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

The basis to Freud's view that men and women are essentially separate entities with their own unique psychological construction and human potential which arises from their anatomical differences, will be challenged from the paradigm of object relations theory and related research from attachment theory. It will be argued that while a substantive understanding of gender development and the related issue of spousal abuse are influenced by such important factors as patriarchal domination, social oppression, socialized roles, and economic inequality between the sexes, these forces are considered to have a secondary psychological effect when compared with the formative influence of early object relations. The object relational paradigm to be outlined is that it is the distinctive emotional impact of the contents and attitudes that occur between the members of each family that establish the blueprints for subsequent feelings about oneself and others, from which particular relational patterns with others are pursued and acted upon within the larger social structure. Freud may be credited for his recognition and pioneering systematic investigation into the central importance of the unconscious in the development and functioning of human beings. Beyond this being a theoretical entity that is devoid of any scientific rigour which cannot be tested, proven, and therefore accepted as a legitimate therapeutic modality, information will be offered that suggests otherwise. Spousal relationships in which abuse constitutes a chronic pattern of interaction between the persons involved is understood to occur within contemporary North American society as a collusive arrangement between two emotionally impaired individuals. The argument will be made that they enter into an unconscious dialogue wherein each perpetrates and perpetuates the hopes and disappointments of their own and their partner's past intrapsychic relational experiences. Incarceration alone does not serve the emotional needs of young offenders, but instead, generally provides conditions which advance what is accepted, within this paper, to be a frequently disturbed psychic structure. The emphasis within the Canadian correctional system seems to emphasize incarceration over rehabilitation with the expectation that punishing those who break the law will result in an abstention from such acts in the future. The argument will be presented that in addition to ensuring public safety through imprisonment for some, there is mounting evidence which demonstrates the success of treatment programmes both within and outside of correctional institutions for those who break the law, and whose primary emphasis is on treatment and rehabilitation rather than detention and retribution. Contrary to therapeutic intervention being carried out as an adjunct to existing penal institutions, or that it be directed principally at the conscious acquisition of skills and information, it is proposed that such efforts are best administered within 2 comprehensive therapeutic environments. Further, it will be argued that rather than the previous and current emphasis which is directed primarily at a cognitive and behavioural level of the offender, it is the emotional foundation of the individual which has a direct influence on their long-term behaviour. Therefore, this aspect should constitute a fundamental component of the treatment program for the forensic patient for which psychoanalytic psychotherapy may play an important role.

The Vermont Agency of Human Services Incarcerated Women’s Initiative (IWI), constituted in April of 2005, was instrumental in supporting the development and implementation of a pilot project, which encompassed three communities in Vermont. The Pilot programs aimed to reduce and prevent incarceration of women whose criminogenic problems were related to their substance use and abuse. These innovative projects are the subject of this mixed methods evaluative study – to determine the extent to which involvement in this project changed the behaviors leading to incarceration and in effect, succeeded in reducing incarceration and further involvement with the criminal justice system. Qualitative data was gathered through semi-structured interviews with former program participants and staff of the projects. Descriptive data was collected through quarterly reports from the project managers to the Vermont Department of Health, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs, the funding agency, and the Vermont Department of Corrections. Each of the sites were compared and contrasted to tell the stories of the women who participated, and to gather the wisdom of the people who worked with them. The outcomes of the study supported the continued utilization of the key strategies of the Drug Education, Treatment, Enforcement and Rehabilitation (DETER) projects in facilitating greater engagement and retention in treatment, and reducing further incarceration in the study subjects. Recommendations for policy change include greater access statewide to Dedicated Case Management, Collaborative Inter-disciplinary Team Planning, and Wrap-Around Services for women offenders.

Thesis (M.Med. (Psychiatry)) --University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus), 2009 / INTRODUCTION There seems to be an increase in the crime rate in South Africa with substantial regional variations as the crime rate and trends differ between provinces and cities with Limpopo being hailed the safest province. In South Africa a defendant in a criminal case can be referred for 30 days of psychiatric observation at any stage of the process. This is to assess whether the accused has a mental illness or defect in terms of the Criminal Procedure Act (Act 51 of 1977) Section 79(2) as amended in the Criminal Matters Amendment Act 1998 (Act 68 of 1998). There is a perception that most of the accused referred for psychiatric observation are known Mental Health Care Users. OBJECTIVE To establish a profile of offenders referred for psychiatric observation in Limpopo from January 2005 to December 2006. METHOD A descriptive retrospective study was done. Information was collected from the computer database available in the Psychiatry Department Polokwane/Mankweng Hospital Complex. The study population consisted of all 678 reports referred by the courts for observation during the period January 2005 to December 2006. Data were analyzed and summarized using frequencies and percentages. RESULTS Over 80% (85% in 2005, 86% in 2006) of the observations were done on an outpatient basis. Of the offenders referred 94% were males. The majority was in the 21-30 age groups. Mopani District had the highest number of referrals and the majority of them were found to be mentally ill. Of the offenders sent for observation in 2005 and 2006, 53% had previous psychiatric contact versus 47% with no previous psychiatric contact. • Of the offenders found fit to stand trial 41% had previous psychiatric contact. • Of those found not fit to stand trial 67% were known Mental Health Care Users. • Of those found not fit to stand trial 33% had never received any formal psychiatric treatment and entered the system through the criminal justice system. Most common mental disorders diagnosed were schizophrenia (42%), substance related disorders (33%) and mental retardation (19%). The majority of offences were assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and malicious damage to property. This reflects the behaviour usually reported on by relatives of relapsed male Mental Health Care Users on admission to psychiatric hospitals or units in the Province. Of the witchcraft accusation offences 70% were committed by mentally ill mental health care users. CONCLUSION The majority of offenders referred for forensic observation had previous contact with the mental health services, yet 41 % of those Mental Health Care Users were found not mentally ill in relation to the alleged offence. Mopani District had the highest number of referrals who were found to be mentally ill. This finding needs to be further evaluated in terms of relationship to the effectiveness and accessibility of the Primary Health Care Service to Mental Health Care Users in Mopani.

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Bibliography: leaves 453-474.