Sociodemographic information, aversive and traumatic events, offense-related characteristics, and mental health of delinquent women in forensic-psychiatric care in Switzerland

Abstract

This present study describes a much understudied group, namely female prisoners under forensic-psychiatric care in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, in order to improve understanding of their risks and their needs. Data were derived from internal databases of a forensic-psychiatric service. Data collected inform of their sociodemographic characteristics, prevalence of aversive and traumatic events, type of offence committed, and mental health conditions. Based on a full sample approach, a total of 1571 files were analysed. Results reveal that two thirds of the participants were not in a stable relationship, more than half did not complete a school degree and three quarters were without stable employment prior to their incarceration. Two thirds were mothers and about one third did not grow up with their parents. Almost half grew up with an alcohol abusing parent and about half experienced violence and/or neglect in childhood, about a quarter of the cases sexual abuse. 95% had a mental health diagnosis according to ICD-10, and the most prevalent mental and behavioural disorder was due to psychoactive substance abuse. The most frequent offense type was drug related crimes. Women convicted for drug-related crimes were more likely to have an ICD-10 F1 disorder compared to those convicted for other crimes. Conversely, women with violent offenses were less likely to suffer from ICD- 10 F1 disorder than those who had committed non-violent offenses. Findings have implications for practitioners and policy makers and contribute to the cycle of violence theory discussion. In conclusion future research areas are suggested.

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ORCID for Hedwig Eisenbarth: orcid.org/0000-0002-0521-2630

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