Abstract
Thirty-one female insanity acquittees from Connecticut were matched to a group of 31 male NGRls. The samples were compared with regard to demographic, criminal, and clinical characteristics. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine predictors of criminal recidivism for the sample. Results indicated that women NGRls were older, more likely to be married, less likely to be substance abusers, had less extensive criminal records, and were released from hospitals sooner than the men. A significant racial difference was noted: white women had less extensive criminal records and were hospitalized for shorter periods than minority women. Results of the logistic regression analyses showed that the strongest independent predictors of criminal recidivism were race and having a diagnosis other than psychosis (schizophrenia, affective or organic disorders). Findings support recent APA policy guidelines on the insanity defense.
Footnotes
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Dr. Zonana, Ms. Buchanan, and Ms. Getz are affiliated with Yale University School of Medicine; Dr. Bartel, Massachusetts Mental Health Center; and Dr. Wells, Project HOPE Center for Health Affairs, Chevy Chase, MD. Requests for reprints should be addressed to Dr. Zonana at Law and Psychiatry Division, Department of Psychiatry Yale University School of Medicine, CMHC—34 Park Street, New Haven, CT 065 19. Some of our results were presented in preliminary form to the annual meeting of the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law, Philadelphia, PA, October, 1986.
- Copyright © 1990, The American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
