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Recidivism and Concomitant Criminality in Pathological Firesetters

NCJ Number
172011
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 42 Issue: 5 Dated: (September 1997) Pages: 879-883
Author(s)
W Barnett; P Richter; D Sigmund; M Spitzer
Date Published
1997
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study compares dangerousness and fire setting recidivism of mentally disordered firesetters with mentally healthy arsonists.
Abstract
The study attempted to characterize three samples of subjects: (1) all persons convicted of arson who were found not guilty by reason of insanity; (2) all persons convicted of arson who were found guilty of diminished responsibility; and (3) a random selection from all persons convicted of arson who had no psychiatric examination in their trial. Mentally disordered arsonists were more likely than non-mentally disordered arsonists to have a history of arson and to be convicted of arson again (11 percent relapse compared to 4 percent). Mentally disordered arsonists had fewer registrations of common offenses, such as theft, traffic violations and alcohol-related offenses. Data from this study do not explain what personal characteristics might distinguish degrees of dangerousness among individual mentally disordered arsonists. The article suggests that patients with treatable mental disorders, e.g., psychoses, are less likely to reoffend than patients who are difficult to treat, e.g., those with personality disorders or (practically untreatable) mental retardation. Tables, references

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