Voorwaardelijke beëindiging van de tbs-dwangverpleging: contrair versus conform de adviserende instantie(s)

Abstract

The Dutch judicial order ‘terbeschikkingstelling’ (tbs) is a court ordered sentence for people who have committed serious crimes and who have been declared (partially) irresponsible of committing these crimes due to severe mental disorders. Towards the end of their treatment, most patients are conditionally released back into society. The decision about conditional release is important, since the judge has to determine whether or not a patient is ready for safe reintegration into society. However, not much is known about the judges’ decision-making process, the effects the judges’ decisions may have on the reintegration of former forensic psychiatric inpatients into the community, and the recidivism rates of these patients. The present study was set up to gain more knowledge about these issues as this may decrease post-release recidivism rates