Legal Features of Mental Disorders among Sexual Offenders without Paraphilia

Korean J Leg Med. 2012May;36(1):68-73. Korean.

Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, Ministry of Justice, Gongju, Korea, nireshin1@naver.com

The aim of this study was to evaluate the legal features of sexual offenders with mental disorders without paraphilia. Patients admitted to Korea Forensic Hospital from1994 to 2012 (n = 193) were reviewed for diagnosis, crime, legal responsibility, readmission(number of admissions), hospitalizations, criminal record, and education level. Psychotic subjects were often declared not guilty because of insanity and avoided legal responsibility, but had long admission periods and fewer criminal records. Mentally retarded subjects also had long admission periods and fewer criminal records, but commited more sexual offenses against victims aged 13 and younger. The substance abuse group had extensive criminal records, shorter admission periods, and frequent admissions. Subjects with personality disorders and others committed relatively more violent crime with injuries, rather than simple sexual offenses. Treatment and social concerns suitable to each diagnosis are required to address sexual offenses associated with diverse legal characteristics.

Key words : sex offender, mental disorder, legal features, forensic hospital

Original article