Early treatment change in perpetrators of sexual versus non-sexual violence

The purpose of this study is to assess treatment change at both a group and individual level in a sample of 81 Dutch male patients who received mandated care for either violent (non-sexual) behavior or sexual violent behavior. Psychiatric nurses rated patients' social skills, insight, hostility, physical violence with the BEST-Index every 6 months over the course of 2 years after patients were admitted to hospital. Mixed analysis of covariances and the reliable change index indicated that patients, irrespective of offense type, showed treatment change over time with exception of physical violence. This study shows that general treatment may be useful in the first 18 month for risk factors common to different types of offenses, but that specialized treatment is needed to establish further change

Relationships between early maladaptive schemas and emotional states in individuals with sexual convictions

This study seeks to add to the existing knowledge and available literature on schema therapy elements in forensic inpatient samples. Early maladaptive schemas and emotional states were assessed in Dutch individuals with sexual convictions and compared to individuals with nonsexual violent convictions. Self-ratings of the Young Schema Questionnaire and the Schema Mode Inventory of 95 patients with either convictions for child sexual abuse (N = 30), sexual violence against adults (N = 34), and nonsexual violent convictions (N = 31) were examined using one-way multivariate ANOVAs. Regardless of victim type, forensic patients convicted for sexual offending, and patients with convictions for nonsexual violent offending, seem to make equal use of specific maladaptive cognitive schemas and schema modes during mandated inpatient care. Other studies have shown that people with sexual offense histories are typically characterized by insecure attachment, overvigilance towards women, or a child-like self-concept. Our study indicates that forensic patient in Dutch mandated care may be qualitatively different from typical patients with sexual offense histories and that Dutch patients with violent or sexual offense histories are more similar than they are dissimilar

Healthy emotions, lower risk? The relationship between emotional states and violence risk among offenders with Cluster B personality disorders

Personality disorders (PDs) are ingrained dysfunctional patterns of cognition, emotion, and behavior. PDs, especially Cluster B PDs, are related to an increased violence risk and are highly prevalent in offender populations. Patients with PDs may suffer from dysregulated affect in a sense that they experience many maladaptive emotional states and relatively few healthy emotional states. It was therefore hypothesized that violence risk can be predicted by emotional states. It was expected that a decrease in maladaptive emotional states or an increase in healthy emotional states would precede a decrease in violence risk. The study sample consisted of 103 male offenders with a Cluster B PD, hospitalized in the Netherlands. We used the Schema Mode Inventory-Revised (SMI-R) to assess healthy and maladaptive emotional states and the Short-Term Assessment of Risk and Treatability (START) to assess short-term violence risk and to monitor changes thereof. Assessments were repeated after 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months. We conducted hierarchical regression analyses with START Risks or Strengths as outcome variables, predicted by START scores, SMI healthy, and maladaptive total scores at an earlier time point and the change over time. Results show that all models were highly significant, but neither the healthy and maladaptive emotional states nor the change over time was a significant predictor. The exception was at 6 and 12 months of START Strengths, where an SMI healthy score was a significant predictor in the model. Our hypothesis was only partially supported, which is likely explained by limitations of the study

Exploring the black box of French community supervision

This article explores how probation officers (POs) in France employ evidence-based practice in the real world. Using 78 audio tapes of 11 POs and 33 offenders in 2 probations services, we assessed PO skills with an adapted version of the Jersey Checklist. Our results suggest that French probation officers generally possess good communication skills, and use – to a certain extent – core correctional practices. They do, however, underperform with regard to cognitive behavioural techniques

Emotional states related to sexual offending versus violent offending using a schema therapy perspective

The aim of this study was to examine the emotional states preceding and during sexual and violent offenses in a Dutch sample of male forensic inpatients. Moreover, the predictive impact of these emotional states on institutional violence in the first year of mandated care was examined using an incident scheme. Observer-ratings of emotional states by 103 male offenders and 97 sex offenders were examined using Mann-Whitney U tests. Using hierarchical multiple regression analyses, the predictive relationship between crime-related emotional states and incidents was examined. Sexual and violent crimes were equally preceded by painful emotions, primarily feelings of abandonment. During violent crimes, a state of bully and attack was dominant whereas sexual crimes were also characterized by self-aggrandizement and manipulation. These emotional states were not predictive for institutional violence. This study emphasizes the importance of emotional states in offending behavior and usefulness of schema therapy’s crime theory

De 'Gulden Route' in de realiteit: Het verloop van verlof tijdens tbs [The Golden Road in reality: Leave during the TBS measure]

Item does not contain fulltextTerbeschikkinggestelden worden stapsgewijs geresocialiseerd door achtereenvolgens begeleid, onbegeleid, transmuraal en proefverlof. Deze standaardketen lijkt echter niet altijd te worden gevolgd. Deze studie onderzocht de meest voorkomende afwijkingen in de verlofketen, en de mogelijke relatie met uitstroom. Dossiergegevens van 422 terbeschikkinggestelden uitgestroomd uit één Forensisch Psychiatrisch Centrum vormden de basis van het onderzoek. De resultaten laten zien dat de standaardketen niet altijd wordt gevolgd. Proefverlof ontbreekt vaak, en één op de tien ketens bevat een periode zonder verlofmachtiging. Bij overplaatsing na een vastgelopen behandeltraject is er vaak geen sprake van verlof. De relevantie voor forensische en juridische professionals wordt toegelicht.17 p

Forensic vigilance in forensic professionals: Development, reliability and factor structure of the forensic vigilance estimate

Purpose: Forensic vigilance is a central competency that forensic professionals need to meet the complex demands of working in forensic settings. Until recently, no instrument for forensic vigilance was available. This study aims to develop a self-assessment tool of forensic vigilance for individuals and teams working in forensic settings, and investigated its psychometric properties. Design/methodology/approach: The Forensic Vigilance Estimate (FVE) was presented to 367 forensic psychiatric professionals and 94 non-forensic psychiatric professionals by means of an online survey. Professionals rated themselves on 15 aspects of forensic vigilance. Findings: The results indicated that the FVE had good psychometric properties, reflected by a good to excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α of 0.903), a good split-half reliability (0.884) and good test–retest reliability (0.809). The factor structure of the FVE was captured by a one-factor model (RMSEA 0.09, SRMR 0.05, TLI 0.91 and CFI 0.92). Proportion of explained variance was 52%. Forensic professionals scored significantly higher than non-forensic professionals on the FVE (t(459) = 3.848, p = 0.002). Practical implications: These results suggest that the FVE may reliably be used for research purposes, e.g. to study the effects of targeted training or intervention or increasing work experience on forensic vigilance or to study which factors influence forensic vigilance. Originality/value: This study represents the first attempt to capture forensic vigilance with a measuring instrument

Treatment of anger and violence of individuals with intellectual disability

Item does not contain fulltextIn this chapter, the authors provide a selective overview of studies published between 2000 and 2018 that assessed effectiveness of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and mindfulness for anger and violence in individuals with mild intellectual disability‐borderline intellectual functioning. They also review studies that have evaluated programmes for training staff members who are involved in the treatment of clients with ID who present with anger problems and violence. The main reasons for this choice are that both treatments actively promote self‐regulation, that they can be implemented both in settings with high or low staff ratios that they may be used in clients showing low‐frequency yet severe aggression and violence, and that they are commonly implemented in forensic services for individuals with ID. These results, however, need to be replicated by other independent researchers before conclusions may be drawn on whether mindfulness is an evidence‐based practice for aggression in individuals with ID

Relationship between forensic vigilance and personality traits, work experience, burnout symptoms, workplace stress and satisfaction in forensic mental healthcare professionals

Purpose: Forensic mental health care is a unique field that poses complex demands on professionals. Forensic vigilance is a hypothesized specialty of forensic mental health professionals, allowing them to meet the complex demands of working in forensic settings. Forensic vigilance consists of theoretical and experiential knowledge of mental disorders, theory of offending behavior, the criminal history of patients and environmental observations and clinical judgment. Although this concept has only been recently described and defined, it is still unknown which professional and individual factors are related to forensic vigilance, and if forensic vigilance is related to job stress and burnout symptoms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between forensic vigilance and several professional and individual factors. Design/methodology/approach: The current study investigated whether forensic vigilance is predicted by years of work experience and the Big Five personality traits by means of an online survey among forensic mental health professionals and whether forensic vigilance is associated with work-related stress, burnout and workplace satisfaction. Findings: The 283 forensic mental health professionals who responded to the survey indicated that forensic work experience, but not general experience, positively predicted forensic vigilance. Forensic vigilance was negatively associated with Neuroticism and positively associated with Openness to experience and Conscientiousness. Forensic vigilance did not predict work-related stress, burnout symptoms and workplace satisfaction. Personal accomplishment was positively related to forensic vigilance. Practical implications: Findings of the present study increase the understanding of the construct of forensic vigilance. The findings presented here highlight the importance of differences between professionals in terms of experience and personality. Training programs should capitalize on experience, while taking personality differences in consideration. Personality differences are relevant in hiring policies and team composition. Finally, to reduce workplace-related stress and burnout symptoms, institutions should consider known factors that influence work-related symptoms (e.g. experienced autonomy) rather than forensic vigilance. Originality/value: To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study represents the first effort to study forensic vigilance in relation to personality, work experience and experienced workplace-related stress and satisfaction