From victim to perpetrator to survivor: The psycho-social context of South African women offenders
Background: There 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, wom...
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| Series: | South African Journal of Psychiatry |
| Online Access: | https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1290 |
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doaj-7d2ac9bad47742c79fee9cd3154c6ce92020-11-24T21:43:07ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Psychiatry 1608-96852078-67862018-10-0124010.4102/sajpsychiatry.v24i0.1290429From victim to perpetrator to survivor: The psycho-social context of South African women offendersMohammed Nagdee0Lillian Artz1Carmen Corral-Bulnes2Aisling Heath3Ugasvaree Subramaney4Helena G. de Clercq5Helmut Erlacher6Carla Kotze7Gian Lippi8Samantha Naidoo9Funeka Sokudela10Fort England Hospital, South Africa; and, Department of Psychiatry, Walter Sisulu University, South Africa; and, Department of Psychology, Rhodes UniversityGender, Health and Justice Research Unit, University of Cape TownGender, Health and Justice Research Unit, University of Cape TownGender, Health and Justice Research Unit, University of Cape TownSterkfontein Hospital, South Africa; and, Department of Psychiatry, University of the WitwatersrandValkenberg Hospital, South Africa; and, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cape TownFort England Hospital, South Africa; and, Department of Psychiatry, Walter Sisulu University,Weskoppies Hospital, South Africa; and, Department of Psychiatry, University of PretoriaWeskoppies Hospital, South Africa; and, Department of Psychiatry, University of PretoriaSterkfontein Hospital, South Africa; and, Department of Psychiatry, University of the WitwatersrandWeskoppies Hospital, South Africa; and, Forensic Mental Health Unit, University of PretoriaBackground: There 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. Aim: This 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. Methods: A retrospective record review of 573 cases, spanning a 12-year review period, from 6 different forensic psychiatric units in South Africa, was conducted. Results: The 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 illness and alcohol abuse permeating 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. Conclusion: It 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.https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1290 |
| collection |
DOAJ |
| language |
English |
| format |
Article |
| sources |
DOAJ |
| author |
Mohammed Nagdee Lillian Artz Carmen Corral-Bulnes Aisling Heath Ugasvaree Subramaney Helena G. de Clercq Helmut Erlacher Carla Kotze Gian Lippi Samantha Naidoo Funeka Sokudela |
| spellingShingle |
Mohammed Nagdee Lillian Artz Carmen Corral-Bulnes Aisling Heath Ugasvaree Subramaney Helena G. de Clercq Helmut Erlacher Carla Kotze Gian Lippi Samantha Naidoo Funeka Sokudela From victim to perpetrator to survivor: The psycho-social context of South African women offenders South African Journal of Psychiatry |
| author_facet |
Mohammed Nagdee Lillian Artz Carmen Corral-Bulnes Aisling Heath Ugasvaree Subramaney Helena G. de Clercq Helmut Erlacher Carla Kotze Gian Lippi Samantha Naidoo Funeka Sokudela |
| author_sort |
Mohammed Nagdee |
| title |
From victim to perpetrator to survivor: The psycho-social context of South African women offenders |
| title_short |
From victim to perpetrator to survivor: The psycho-social context of South African women offenders |
| title_full |
From victim to perpetrator to survivor: The psycho-social context of South African women offenders |
| title_fullStr |
From victim to perpetrator to survivor: The psycho-social context of South African women offenders |
| title_full_unstemmed |
From victim to perpetrator to survivor: The psycho-social context of South African women offenders |
| title_sort |
from victim to perpetrator to survivor: the psycho-social context of south african women offenders |
| publisher |
AOSIS |
| series |
South African Journal of Psychiatry |
| issn |
1608-9685 2078-6786 |
| publishDate |
2018-10-01 |
| description |
Background: There 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.
Aim: This 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.
Methods: A retrospective record review of 573 cases, spanning a 12-year review period, from 6 different forensic psychiatric units in South Africa, was conducted.
Results: The 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 illness and alcohol abuse permeating 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.
Conclusion: It 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. |
| url |
https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1290 |
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