Changes of Characteristics of Mentally Ill Criminals: Between 1990 and 2000

Lee, Gyung Sook; Ahn, Hyang; Choi, Sang Sub; Lee, Jae Kap; Choi, Sung Hee

Abstract

The authors reviewed the medical records and additional data of 460 mentally ill criminals who had referred to National Forensic Psychiatric Hospital, from January 1990 to December 1990 (60 cases) and from January 2000 and December 2000 (394 cases). The demographic factors, characteristics of crime, psychiatric diagnoses and psychiatric opinions and legal opinions , and legal opinions were analyzed and the results are as follows. 1) The frequency of crimes by female, high education level and single status increased. 2) As to the psychiatric diagnosis, schizophrenia decreased whereas substance- use disorder, mood disorder and personality disorder were increased and kleptomania and anxiety disorder were added. 3) As to the types and feature of crime, homicide and violence increased, whereas arson decreased and larcency, violation of harzadous substance and violation of narcotic drug were added. 4) As to victims of crime, the frequency of crimes committed to strangers increased whereas that of the family members and their lelatives were decreased. 5) As to motivation of crime, the frequency of impulsivity increased but psychotic symptoms such as delusion and hallucination significantly decreased. 6) More that half of psychiatric tests were referred from the court, but the agreement rate between the judge 's opinions and psychiatric opinions was decreased. In Conclusion, the changes of charateristics of mentally ill criminal were attributed to sociocultural changes for mentally ill criminals and implimeted in Social Protection Law. As the judges do not completely agree to the psychiatric opinions, the close cooperation between the judges and the psychiatrist as legal adviser should be necessory for mentally ill criminals.