1. Recidivism of female systematic offenders:
Dr. Eric Blaauw
VNN and Hanze University of Applied Sciences
The Netherlands

2. Psychopathology and crime
After clinical admittance, 3-11 times higher risk of later convictions (Hodgins, 1995)
With addiction 3-4 times higher chance of crime (review Bennett, Holloway & Farrington, 2008)
Crack: 6 x
Heroin: 3 x
Cocaine: 2.5 x
Amphetamines: 1.9 x
Cannabis: 1.5 x
Alcohol and benzodiazepines lead to higher (but unknown/variable) risk of crimes

3. Psychopathology and the justice system
In prisons 60% have problematic use of substances (30% alcohol, 38% drugs) and 54-60% had a mental disorder in the past year
In Dutch TBS institutions (high security hospitals for court order patients) 100% had mental disorder and 65% had addiction (year prevalence)
Of those who were (partially) not guilty by reasons of insanity, 46% were intoxicated and in 21% the intoxication caused escalation
High prevalence of psychopathology among women in prison (Fazel & Danesh, 2002)
See Blaauw & Roozen(2012)

4. Specific measure in the Netherlands
Measure to place individuals in Institution for Systematic Offenders (Dutch ISD)
Since October 2004
Goals:
Crime reduction through incapacitation
Recidivism reduction through treatment and resocialisation
Method: Two years measure with intramural and outpatient phases with individual plans

5. For whom is the measure intended?
Systematic offenders:
More than 10 charges in past five years
In past five years three or more imprisonments or mandatory treatment sentences
Current criminal offence
Safety of others requires a measure
Excluding Not Guilty by Reasons of Insanity (NGRI)

6. Method In the central ISD institution for women
All women from start in 2004 until end 2012
Reports of NGRI examinations by psychiatrists/ psychologists, criminal record, parole reports and own reports
Selection of 81 fairly complete reports minus 7 who had deceased
Gathering of criminal records July 2015

7. Characteristics of the sample
Age 41 years (SD = 7)
82% history of mental health care
41% history of prostitution
61% no fixed abode
Victim of sexual abuse 43%
Victim of severe/repeated physical abuse 74%

8. Psychopathology in the sample
All but one addicted with 88% addicted to multiple substances
53% one (42%) or more Axis I disorder other than substance disorder
75% one (57%) or more personality disorders
59% borderline intellectual functioning at most (N = 44)
Blaauw, E., Strijker, G., Boerema, Y., Veersma, E., van der Meer-Jansma, M., & Anthonio, G. (2016). Dual diagnoses among detained female systematic offenders. Advances in Dual Diagnosis, 9(1), 7–13.

9. Recidivism after two years
After prison 56%
In sample of male highly active repeated offenders 72-74% (Tollenaar & Laan, 2012; Tollenaar, Laan & Beijersbergen, 2014)
In present sample 58%

10. Recidivism in the sample
11% recidivism with very serious offence (> 8 years imprisonment)
No difference in severity of offences after ISD
Decrease in annual
Number of crimes 3.2  .95, p<0.001
Days in police custody 68.6  26.8, p<0.001
Days in prison 85.3  23.5, p<0.001

11. Recidivism in the sample
No relationship with demographic characteristics, but weak negative relationship with antisocial PD
No relationship with prior prostitution, physical abuse and sexual abuse X²(3) = 1.6, p = 0.66
No relationship with prior SUD, psychiatric disorder and personality disorder X²(2) = 3.4, p = 0.18

12. Conclusions
Recidivism after ISD still high
Recidivism after ISD lower than male ISD recidivism
No relationship with prior pathology
Every female systematic offender has a reasonable change to abstain from recidivism

13. Thank you for your attention

14. References
Bennett, T.,Holloway, K., & Farrington, D. (2008). The statistical association between drug misuse and crime: A meta-analysis. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 13(2), 107–118.
Blaauw, E., & Roozen, H. (2012) (Red.), Handboek Forensische Verslavingszorg. Utrecht, the Netherlands: Bohn, Stafleu en van Loghem.
Blaauw, E., Strijker, G., Boerema, Y., Veersma, E., van der Meer-Jansma, M., & Anthonio, G. (2016). Dual diagnoses among detained female systematic offenders. Advances in Dual Diagnosis, 9(1), 7–13.
Fazel, S. & Danesh, J. (2002) Serious mental disorder in prisoners: a systematic review of 62 surveys. Lancet, 359, 545– 550.
Hodgins, S. (1995) Major mental disorder and crime: An overview. Psychology, Crime & Law, 2(1), 5-17.
Popma, A., Blaauw, E., & Bijlsma, E. (2012). Psychiatrische comorbiditeit van verslaving in relatie tot criminaliteit. In Blaauw, E., & Roozen, H. (Red.), Handboek Forensische Verslavingszorg (pp ). Utrecht, the Netherlands : Bohn, Stafleu en van Loghem.
Tollenaar, N., & Laan, A.M. van der (2012). Effecten van de ISD-maatregel: Technische rapportage. Den Haag, the Netherlands : WODC.
Tollenaar, N., Laan, A.M. van der., & Beijersbergen, K.A. (2014). Korte- en langetermijneffecten van de ISD-maatregel. Den Haag, the Netherlands : WODC.