"Released but still locked-in": Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic on Forensic Outpatients

Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV-2) affects some people's psychological well-being and has become a challenge for our society. People in forensic settings are at specific risk, especially those who have been released from prison or forensic clinics just before or during the pandemic. Although there are theoretical assumptions about these peoples' experience of the pandemic and recommendations for treatment and risk management, supporting empirical findings are yet missing. The present study investigated forensic outpatients' experience of restrictions in various fields of their everyday life due to SARS-CoV-2-related measures and changes in their attitudes toward treatment and offending, psychological well-being, and resource awareness over the course of the current pandemic. Most patients were satisfied with treatment despite SARS-CoV-2-related limitations. There was a certain stability in psychological well-being, although increased SARS-CoV-2-related stress was associated with increased general psychological burden. Over the course of the pandemic, resource awareness declined, which is of specific importance regarding offense-oriented risk assessment and treatment. Implications are discussed for treatment that offers optimum support based on personal and situational factors and contributes to a lower risk of future delinquency and, thus, the protection of our society.