Strukturen der Alterskriminalität

The group of the over 60-years-old does only contribute a relatively small part to the registered crime – compared to their continuously growing percentage in the population. Crimes committed by elderly persons are predominantly property offences with shoplifting playing an outstanding role. Elderly persons are also overrepresented concerning offences of insult, (negligent) arson and environmental offences whereas violent crimes are rare. Elderly men are also slightly overrepresented concerning sexual abuse of children, but this is very rare, too. As a whole, the fear that Germany will be overrun by a wave of old-age crime does not seem to be confirmed. Elderly offenders are still very rare and the offences committed are significantly less heavy than those committed by younger offenders.     

Soziales Training im Jugendstrafvollzug: Effekte auf Sozial- und Legalbewährung

Social competence is viewed as a decisive protective factor in avoiding delinquent behaviour. The encouragement of social competence is therefore an essential content of juvenile offender treatment. The central issue this paper addresses is whether the participation in social competence trainings in youth correctional facilities prevents recidivism and is conductive to social reintegration after release. This study uses longitudinal data of 218 males aged 15 to 24 years in youth correctional facilities. A control group was established by Propensity Score Matching which was compared with 109 former participants of social competence training. The results of the analyses put the relevancy of the social competence training for the future life of the juveniles in perspective.     

Forensisch-psychiatrische Versorgungsstrukturen in Deutschland: Ein Vergleich zwischen Alten und Neuen Bundesländern

Differences and similarities of the forensic mental health hospitals in the New Federal States (NFS) (former East Germany) and the Old Federal States (OFS) (former West Germany) were assessed. The focus of the study was set on institutional features of these hospitals as well as on characteristics of the detained patients. Data were based on a survey conducted in 2006. Specifically designed questionnaires were sent to the mental health departments of the State Ministries, and to all forensic mental health hospitals (response rates 100% and 62%). The general finding is that structures of forensic mental health services in NFS and OFS, e.g. the number of beds per million inhabitants and institutional features, have become similar since the German reunification. The health staff-patient relation is equal for some professions, whereas for other professions this relation is even better in NFS. Differences exist regarding the forensic mental health law of the Federal States. Moreover, the proportions of some delicts and diagnoses in the detained clientele differ. In NFS, the need for forensic aftercare facilities is even more urgent than in OFS. In both parts of the country there is a need for the development of some aspects of quality assurance for both forensic mental health hospitals as well as governmental institutions. Generally, the evaluation of quality of structures, processes and results is yet impossible for many fields of forensic mental health care, because there is no sufficient data base.     

Die Kindestötung unter strafrechtlichen Aspekten

It is outlined that infanticide has been assessed in many different ways in the history of criminal law. Special emphasis is put on the former § 217 StGB of the German Penal Code. Then a presentation of the relevant provisions of the current German penal law and their application in individual cases is given.     

Psychiatrischer Beitrag

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Zum Zusammenhang zwischen Vollzugslockerungen, Unterbringung im offenen Vollzug und Legalbewährung bei Sexualstraftätern

Early release, temporary absence, and minimum security confinement have been permitted less often in German prisons in recent years. There are several reasons and indications that sexual offenders are particularly affected by these developments. Prison files and recidivism data of 115 adult sexual offenders who had been in a Lower Saxony prison in the mid-1990s were analyzed for the current study to find out whether this group posed a specific risk when permitted temporary absence or minimum security confinement. It was also considered whether temporary absence and minimum security confinement were related to reduced recidivism after release. The average follow-up interval was 8.5 years. The following findings emerged: First, 50.9% were reconvicted for any offence, 21.3% with an aggressive offence, and only 7.4% were reconvicted with a sexual offence. Every fifth (19.4%) was sentenced to another prison term or had another probation term revoked. Second, rule-breaking and criminal activity by sex offenders during minimum confinement or temporary absence were very rare and of low severity. Third, sexual offenders in minimum security confinement were less likely to recidivate than others on all measures of reoffending. With Cox regression analyses that controlled for important risk factors for recidivism it was found that minimum security confinement contributed to reduced general, but not to reduced sexual or aggressive reoffending. No relationship was found between level of temporary absence status (unaccompanied vs. accompanied) and recidivism. It is concluded that, contrary to public opinion and judicial practice, sexual offenders can be granted minimum security confinement and temporary absence if an adequate selection process is implemented.     

Kriminologischer Beitrag

Ohne Zusammenfassung