Effectiveness of Violent Offender Treatment Programme

Authors

  • Vedika Agarwal MBPsS Forensic Psychologist

Keywords:

Offender, Violence, Mentally Disordered Offenders, Psychology

Abstract

The number of offenders with mental illness convicted of violent offenses is rapidly growing in the criminal justice systems. However, effective rehabilitative treatment programs for violent offenders with mental illness have been limited (Braham, Jones & Hollin, 2008). This essay will review the existing literature base for the violent offender treatment program (VOTP) and evaluate its effectiveness

The prevalence of violence within the Mentally Disordered Offenders (MDO) population is significantly higher than other types of offending (Braham, Jones & Hollin, 2008). In 2003, 36% of forensic psychiatric units’ population was either convicted or accused of acts of violence (Lily & Howard, 2004). 72.3% of the population within the high secure psychiatric services in the U.K. were committed to a violent offense (Braham, Jones & Hollin, 2008). Clinicians often debate about what constitutes appropriate treatment for MDOs (Muller-Isberner & Hodgins, 2000). They present with two categories of treatment needs: one being needs originating due to the diagnosis of the mental illness and the second needs are categorized as criminogenic needs (Andrews & Bonta, 1998). ​Although there is an overlap in the criminogenic needs of violent MDOs and non-mentally disordered violent offenders (Bonta, Law, & Hanson, 1998), the treatment for MDOs significantly differs as it is characterized by medication. Research suggests that medication is helpful in managing symptoms of mental illness associated with violence, however many scholars support the need for a psychological emphasis to treatment suggesting that not all MDOs respond to neuroleptic medication (Heilbrun & Griffin, 1999).

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Author Biography

Vedika Agarwal MBPsS, Forensic Psychologist

Vedika Agarwal, a Forensic Psychologist in training. She has completed Masters of Science in Forensic Psychology and Mental Health from the University of Manchester, U.K.

She has in-depth knowledge about mental health as well as core skills and understanding about Forensic Psychology. In her professional career she has worked for various NGOs and Mental Health organisations. She has experience working with people with various mental health problems and illnesses. Her client base includes deviant population, adolescents, children, and adults. She is also a research scholar and have successfully completed three research papers in the field of psychology and sociology. Her broad research interests are ‘Understanding of the Criminal mind and the different Reformation Interventions used for offenders. She is passionate and determined to help reform and rehabilitate ex-offenders and prisoners and understand the reasons behind the criminal behavior.

References

Braham, L., Jones, D., & Hollin, C. (2008). The Violent Offender Treatment Program (VOTP): Development of a Treatment Program for Violent Patients in a High Security Psychiatric Hospital. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 7(2), 157-172.

Bonta, J. and Andrews, D.A. (2007), “Risk-need-responsivity model for offender assessment and treatment”, User Report No. 2007-06, Public Safety Canada, Ottawana.

Dolan, M. and Doyle, M. (2000), “Violence risk prediction: clinical and actuarial measures and the role of the psychopathy checklist”, British Journal of Psychiatry, Vol. 177 No. 4, pp. 303-11.

Day, A., & Doyle, P. (2010). Violent offender rehabilitation and the therapeutic community model of treatment: Towards integrated service provision? Aggression And Violent Behavior, 15(5), 380-386.

Howden, S., Midgley, J., Hargate, R., (2018). Violent offender treatment in a medium secure unit. Journal of Forensic Practice, 20(2), 102-111.

Jolliffe, D., & Farrington, D. P. (2007). A systematic review of the national and international evidence on the effectiveness of interventions with violent Offenders Series 16/07. London: Ministry of Justice Research.

Lilly, L., & Howard, D. (2004). Statistics of mentally disordered offenders. London: 2003 Home Office National statistic HMSO.

Muller-Isberner, R., & Hodgins, S. (2000). Evidence based treatment for mentally disordered offenders. In R Muller- Isberner, & S. Hodgins (Eds.), Violence crime and mentally disordered offenders: Concepts and methods for effective treatment and prevention (pp. 7-38). Chichester: Wiley.

Wong, S.C.P., Gordon, A., Gu, D., Lewis, K. and Oliver, M. (2012), “The effectiveness of violence reduction treatment for psychopathic offenders: empirical evidence and treatment model”, International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, Vol. 11 No. 4, pp. 336-49.

Young, S., Chick, K. and Gudjonsson, G. (2010), “A preliminary evaluation of reasoning and rehabilitation 2 in mentally disordered offenders (R&R2M) across two secure forensic settings in the United Kingdom”, The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, Vol. 21 No. 3, pp. 336-49.

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Published

2020-08-01

How to Cite

Agarwal MBPsS, V. (2020). Effectiveness of Violent Offender Treatment Programme. Nyayik Vigyan Articles of Forensic Research and Criminal Investigation, 1(2). Retrieved from https://articles.nyayikvigyan.com/nva/article/view/31

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2020): Forensic Science Application 2020

Section

Forensic Science Application

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Copyright (c) 2020 Vedika Agarwal MBPsS

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