Citation

Zonana HV, Bartel RL, Wells JA, Buchanan JA, Getz MA. Bull. Am. Acad. Psychiatry Law 1990; 18(2): 129-142.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2372574

Abstract

Thirty-one female insanity acquittess from Connecticut were matched to a group of 31 male NGRIs. 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 NGRIs 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.

Language: en