NCJ Number
53642
Journal
REVISTA SPERIMENTALE DI FRENISTRIA A MEDICINA LEGALE DELLE ALIENAZIONI MENTALI Volume: 98 Issue: 4 Dated: (AUGUST 1974) Pages: 669-693
Date Published
1974
Length
25 pages
Annotation
SPONSORED BY A TEAM OF PROGRESSIVE ITALIAN PENOLOGISTS AND FORENSIC PSYCHIATRISTS, A 3-YEAR (1970-73) EXPERIMENT WAS CONDUCTED INVOLVING A GROUP OF PATIENTS DIAGNOSED AS CRIMINALLY INSANE AND A CIVILIAN HOSPITAL.
Abstract
IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROMOTE THE ELIMINATION OF MAXIMUM SECURITY FACILITIES FOR OFFENDERS LEGALLY DEFINED AS CRIMINALLY INSANE (ESPECIALLY DEFENDANTS FOUND UNABLE TO STAND TRIAL OR ACQUITTED BY REASON OF INSANITY AND SENTENCED TO AN INDETERMINATE SENTENCE UNDER PSYCHIATRIC OBSERVATION AND TREATMENT), 32 SUCH PATIENTS WERE PLACED IN SEPARATE WARDS AT A LARGE CIVILIAN MENTAL HOSPITAL IN A SMALL TOWN COMMUNITY TO BE TREATED UNDER MINIMUM SECURITY CONDITIONS BY DEDICATED PSYCHIATRISTS. STRICT LIMITATIONS IN FUNDING AND DURATION WERE IMPOSED UPON THE INNOVATIVE PROJECT, WHICH WAS REGARDED WITH SKEPTICISM BY THE ITALIAN PSYCHIATRIC ESTABLISHMENT STILL BIASED AGAINST CRIMINALLY INSANE PATIENTS. ANALYSIS OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND THERAPEUTIC IMPACT OF THE EXPERIMENT ON ITS SUBJECTS USING CASE HISTORIES REVEALS THAT THE EXPERIMENT WAS SUCCESSFUL IN MANY WAYS, I.E., IN ELICITNG THE COOPERATION, EVEN THE ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPATION, OF INITIALLY APATHETIC PATIENTS IN GROUP THERAPY SESSIONS. THE SUPPORT OF THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY WAS ATTRACTED, INCLUDING YOUNG VOLUNTEERS OF BOTH SEXES WORKING WITHOUT INCIDENT WITH THE PATIENTS AT THE HOSPITAL; THERE WERE NO ESCAPES AND NO DANGEROUS ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN FREELY-CIRCULATING PATIENTS AND THE LOCAL PEOPLE. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE EXPERIMENT REVEALED BUILT-IN WEAKNESSES, SUCH AS THE PATIENTS' PAINFUL AWARENESS OF BEING LABELED AS BOTH 'CRIMINAL' AND 'INSANE,' A STIGMA DESTRUCTIVE OF ANY FEELING OF PERSONAL WORTH, OR KINSHIP WITH SOCIETY. ALSO, THE DEEP CONCERN ON THE PART OF THE PSYCHIATRISTS AND THE HOSPITAL STAFF IN REALIZING THAT THE AGGRESSIVENESS THEY HAD SUCCEEDED IN TREATING OUT OF THEIR PATIENTS THROUGH THERAPY AND GUIDED GROUP INTERACTION WAS THE ONLY WEAPON THE PATIENTS HAD IN COPING WITH THE ALIEN MAINSTREAM WORLD THEY WERE TO REENTER AFTER RELEASE. NO FOLLOWUPS TO THE EXPERIMENT WERE ANTICIPATED. INSTEAD, MANY MAXIMUM SECURITY ASYLUMS FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE WERE BEING BUILT IN ITALY IN 1974, WITH NO LIMITATIONS IN FUNDING AND NO PUBLIC OBJECTIONS. --IN ITALIAN. (LGR)