Abstract
BackgroundThere is a paucity of research on women offenders in the South African context, particularly those referred for forensic psychiatric observation. Little is known about their life histories, the nature of their offences or the psycho-social contexts that enable, or are antecedents to, women’s criminal offending.AimsThis research study, the largest of its kind in South Africa, examined the psycho-social contexts within which women offenders referred for psychiatric evaluation come to commit offences. The profiles of both offenders and victims, as well as reasons for referral and forensic mental health outcomes, were investigated.MethodsA retrospective record review of 573 cases, spanning a 12-year review period, from six different forensic psychiatric units in South Africa, was conducted.ResultsThe findings describe a population of women offenders who come from backgrounds of socio-demographic and socio-economic adversity, with relatively high pre-offence incidences of being victims of abuse themselves, with significant levels of mental ill-health and alcohol abuse permeating their life histories. The majority of index offences which led to court-ordered forensic evaluations were for violent offences against the person, with murder being the single most common index offence in the sample. Most victims of violence were known to the accused. There were also relatively high rates of psychotic and mood-spectrum disorders present, with relatively low rates of personality disorders. The majority of women were deemed to be trial competent and criminally responsible in relation to their index offences.ConclusionIt is recommended that more standardised and gender-sensitive forensic mental health assessment approaches, documentation and reporting be employed throughout the country. Future research should compare male and female offending patterns and forensic mental health profiles.
Highlights
There is a paucity of research on women offenders in the South African context, those referred for forensic psychiatric observation
With the exception of Offen,[16] whose study showed indications that gender and ethnicity played a role in the process of court referrals, and more recently, Khoele et al.[17] who examined the forensic clinical records of 32 women charged with murder or attempted murder of minors referred to Weskoppies Hospital, there remains scant data on women in forensic mental health facilities, or those referred for psychiatric assessment under the South African Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) of 1977, and its amendments.[18,19]
A retrospective study of clinical records of all accused women referred by the South African courts to all large forensic mental health units for observation under the CPA was conducted
Summary
There is a paucity of research on women offenders in the South African context, those referred for forensic psychiatric observation. With the exception of Offen,[16] whose study showed indications that gender and ethnicity played a role in the process of court referrals, and more recently, Khoele et al.[17] who examined the forensic clinical records of 32 women charged with murder or attempted murder of minors referred to Weskoppies Hospital (in Pretoria, South Africa), there remains scant data on women in forensic mental health facilities, or those referred for psychiatric assessment under the South African Criminal Procedure Act (CPA) of 1977, and its amendments.[18,19] Other published studies that have been previously conducted in South Africa on offenders referred by courts for psycho-legal evaluation under the CPA have either been confined to single sites, with relatively small sample sizes, or have focused primarily or exclusively on male offenders.[20,21,22,23,24,25] Female offenders have received little attention in comparison with male offenders, but the few South African studies that do exist have shown that women’s pathways to imprisonment are characterised by prior sexual and physical victimisation, parental neglect, stressful life events, substance abuse and mental health issues.[1,2,3,4] These studies reflect findings in international research on women in prison, which has found a number of childhood, psycho-social and familial criminogenic risk factors associated with offending behaviour, including early onset impulsivity and conduct disorder, low educational and occupational attainment, adverse early life experiences, poor child-rearing practices, single parenting, large and chaotic family environments, parental (especially paternal) criminality, substance misuse and socio-economic deprivation.[5,6,7,8] Studies from both the United Kingdom and the United States reveal a consistent picture with respect to mental ill-health of female detainees: female prisoners are around twice as likely as their male counterparts to have a psychiatric diagnosis.[9,10,11] Women prisoners present with high rates of self-injurious behaviour, suicidal tendencies, substance misuse, personality disorders, intellectual disability, depressive and anxiety disorders, and HIV.[6,12,13,14,15]
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