Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7czq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-24T06:07:45.389Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 21 - Offenders with Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Four Nordic Countries

from Section 3 - Criminal Justice Pathways and Legal Issues

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 May 2023

By
Erik Søndenaa  and
Søren Holst
Edited by
Jane M. McCarthy ,
Regi T. Alexander  and
Eddie Chaplin
Jane M. McCarthy
Affiliation:
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and University of Auckland
Regi T. Alexander
Affiliation:
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and University of Hertfordshire
Eddie Chaplin
Affiliation:
Institute of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University
Get access

Summary

This chapter provides an overview of the practice, research, legislation and services models across the four Nordic countries of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland. There are marked differences in approaches to offenders with neurodevelopmental disorders across the Nordic countries. Most countries have defined thresholds around the functioning of the person in considering a person criminally irresponsible. Still, the approach to identification, care and treatment of offenders with these conditions within the criminal law remains unclear. Treatment facilities reflect the legislation and policy of the country with for example an inclusive perspective as in Sweden which provides no separate treatment facilities for offenders with intellectual disability (ID) or neurodevelopmental disorders. However, Norway and Denmark have taken a different approach and developed special care and treatment units for people with neurodevelopmental disorders who commit offences.

Keywords

Neurodevelopmental disordersIntellectual disabilitiesNordic countriesoffendersDenmarkFinlandNorwaySweden
Type
Chapter
Information
Forensic Aspects of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
A Clinician's Guide
 , pp. 252 - 264
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Andersen, TM. Challenges to the Scandinavian welfare model. European Journal of Political Economy 2004; 20(3): 743–54.Google Scholar
Christiansen, NF. The Nordic Model of Welfare: A Historical Reappraisal. Museum Tusculanum Press, 2006.Google Scholar
Lappi-Seppälä, T. Trust, welfare, and political culture: explaining differences in national penal policies. Crime and Justice 2008; 37(1): 313–87.Google Scholar
Kirkebæk, B. Da de aandssvage blev farlige [When the mentally deficient became dangerous]. Forlaget SocPol. 1995.Google Scholar
Søndenaa, E, Gudde, C, Thomassen, Ø. Patients with intellectual disabilities in the forensic asylums 1915–1982: before admission. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research 2015; 17(1): 14–25.Google Scholar
Seppänen, A, Joelsson, P, Ahlgren-Rimpiläinen, A, Repo-Tiihonen, E. Forensic psychiatry in Finland: an overview of past, present and future. International Journal of Mental Health Systems 2020; 14: 1–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rafter, NH. Creating Born Criminals. University of Illinois Press, 1997.Google Scholar
Hodgins, S. Mental disorder, intellectual deficiency, and crime: evidence from a birth cohort. Archives of General Psychiatry 1992; 49(6): 476–83.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lindsay, WR, Dernevik, M. Risk and offenders with intellectual disabilities: reappraising Hodgins (1992) classic study. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health 2013; 23: 151–7.Google Scholar
Schwartz, JA, Savolainen, J, Aaltonen, M, Merikukka, M, Paananen, R, Gissler, M. Intelligence and criminal behavior in a total birth cohort: an examination of functional form, dimensions of intelligence, and the nature of offending. Intelligence 2015; 51: 109–18.Google Scholar
Moberg, T, Stenbacka, M, Tengstrom, A, Jonsson, EG, Nordstrom, P, Jokinen, J. Psychiatric and neurological disorders in late adolescence and risk of convictions for violent crime in men. BMC Psychiatry 2015; 15: 299.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Heeramun, R, Magnusson, C, Gumpert, CH, Granath, S, Lundberg, M, Dalman, C, et al. Autism and convictions for violent crimes: population-based cohort study in Sweden. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2017; 56(6): 491–7.Google Scholar
Billstedt, E, Anckarsater, H, Wallinius, M, Hofvander, B. Neurodevelopmental disorders in young violent offenders: overlap and background characteristics. Psychiatry Research 2017; 252: 234–41.Google Scholar
Krona, H. On lifetime violent criminality in a Swedish forensic psychiatric cohort. 2020. Available at: www.lunduniversity.lu.se/lup/publication/0e2a599f-e361-4826-a4ff-35afff4767f4.Google Scholar
Lundström, S, Forsman, M, Larsson, H, Kerekes, N, Serlachius, E, Långström, N, et al. Childhood neurodevelopmental disorders and violent criminality: a sibling control study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 2014; 44(11): 2707–16.Google Scholar
Lund, J. Mentally retarded criminal offenders in Denmark. British Journal of Psychiatry 1990; 156(5): 726–31.Google Scholar
Justitsministeriet. Nye foranstaltningsdomme i 2019. Forskningskontoret, Copenhagen. 2020.Google Scholar
Breumlund, A, Hansen, IB. Domsanbragte udviklingshæmmede. Hvorfra-Hvorhen? II: Beboerperspektiver på forandringer [Sentenced people with developmentally disabillity. From where to where? User perspectives on change]. Aalborg Universitet, 2014. Available at: https://vbn.aau.dk/ws/portalfiles/portal/201355186/f_rdig_Domsanbragte_2_NETTET.pdf.Google Scholar
Ringø, P. Domsanbragte udviklingshæmmede Hvorfra-Hvorhen? I: Den socialpædagogiske indsats på et botilbud for voksne udviklingshæmmede med dom [Sentenced people with developmentally disability. The social peadagogic efforts at a residential unit for adults with developmental disabilities who are convicted]. Aalborg Universitet, 2014. Available at: https://viden.sl.dk/media/7289/domsanbragte_web.pdf.Google Scholar
Rømer, M. Det socialpædagogiske arbejde på botilbud med domfældte udviklingshæmmede: rammebetingelser og dilemmaer [The socio-educational work in residential facilities with convicted mentally disabled people: framework conditions and dilemmas]. Social-og specialpædagogik: Akademisk Forlag, 2015: 255–68.Google Scholar
Rømer, M. Dømt til socialpædagogik: Et studie af dilemmaer i den socialpædagogiske indsats på et botilbud for domfældte voksne med udviklingshæmning. Aalborg University. 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5278/vbn.phd.socsci.00061.Google Scholar
Holst, S, Lystrup, D. Brandstiftelse. Hærværk, Kommunikation eller Fascination. En Undersøgelse af Udviklingshæmmede Brandstiftere [Fire Setting. Vandalism, communication or fascination? A study of developmentally disabled fire setters]. Kofoedsminde, 2013.Google Scholar
Holst, S, Lystrup, D, Taylor, JL. Firesetters with intellectual disabilities in Denmark. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour 2019; 10(4): 72–81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Søndenaa, E, Rasmussen, K, Palmstierna, T, Nøttestad, J. The prevalence and nature of intellectual disability in Norwegian prisons. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 2008; 52(12): 1129–37.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Søndenaa, E, Olsen, T, Kermit, PS, Dahl, NC, Envik, R. Intellectual disabilities and offending behaviour: the awareness and concerns of the police, district attorneys and judges. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour 2019; 10(2): 34–42.Google Scholar
Søndenaa, E, Spro, M. Lettere psykisk utviklingshemmede i strafferettslig forstand: en gjennomgang av alle registrerte saker fra Lovdata 2002–2014. Lov og rett 2016; 55(08): 504–16.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Søndenaa, E, Friestad, C, Storvik, BL, Johnsen, B. Criminal responsibility and challenges in the criminal justice system for people with intellectual disability in Norway. Bergen Journal of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice 2019; 7(1): 97–109.Google Scholar
Friestad, C, Johnsen, B, Storvik, BL, Søndenaa, E. Innsatte med utviklingshemming: en deskriptiv undersøkelse av ulike etaters arbeid med identifikasjon og tilrettelegging. 2020. Available at: https://sifer.no/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Rapport-innsatte-utviklingshemming_PDF.pdf.Google Scholar
Helverschou, SB, Rasmussen, K, Steindal, K, Søndanaa, E, Nilsson, B, Nøttestad, JA. Offending profiles of individuals with autism spectrum disorder: a study of all individuals with autism spectrum disorder examined by the forensic psychiatric service in Norway between 2000 and 2010. Autism 2015; 19(7): 850–8.Google Scholar
Helverschou, SB, Steindal, K, Nøttestad, JA, Howlin, P. Personal experiences of the criminal justice system by individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Autism 2018; 22(4): 460–8.Google Scholar
Søndenaa, E, Helverschou, SB, Steindal, K, Rasmussen, K, Nilson, B, Nøttestad, JA. Violence and sexual offending behavior in people with autism spectrum disorder who have undergone a psychiatric forensic examination. Psychological Reports 2014; 115(1): 32–43.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Simpson, MK, Hogg, J. Patterns of offending among people with intellectual disability: a systematic review. Part 1: methodology and prevalence data. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 2001; 45(5): 384–96.Google Scholar
Holmberg, G. Forensic psychiatric practice in the Nordic countries. Nordic Journal of Psychiatry 1998; 51(S39): 7–14.Google Scholar
Lappi-Seppälä, T. Nordic sentencing. Crime and Justice 2016; 45(1): 17–82.Google Scholar
Swedish Government. The Swedish criminal code. Available at: www.government.se/498db0/contentassets/7a2dcae0787e465e9a2431554b5eab03/the-swedish-criminal-code.pdf.Google Scholar
Justermark, J, Lagneteg, M. Tvångsvård av unga med neuropsykiatriska funktionsnedsättningar: Tillämpning av rekvisitet ‘socialt nedbrytande beteende’ [Compulsory care of young people with neuropsychiatric disabilities: Application of the requirement ‘socially degrading behavior’]. PhD Thesis. Ørebro University, 2019.Google Scholar
FreseJensen, M, Greve, V, Høyer, G, Spencer, M. The Principal Danish Criminal Acts, The Danish Criminal Code, The Danish Correction Act, The Administration of Justice Act. DJØF Publishing Association of Danish Lawyers and Economists, Copenhagen, 2006.Google Scholar
World Health Organization. International Classification of Diseases 11th revision. 2022. Available at: www.who.int/standards/classifications/classification-of-diseases.Google Scholar
Danish Criminal Code. Available at: www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/danish-criminal-code-english-version.Google Scholar
Retsinformation. Psykiatriloven. Available at: www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2019/936.Google Scholar
Retsinformation. Serviceloven. Available at: www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2020/1287.Google Scholar
Rigsadvokaten [Director of Public Prosecutions]. Meddelelse nr. 5/2007, Behandling af straffesager vedrørende psykisk afvigende kriminelle og personer omfattet af straffelovens § 70. 2007 [A governmental document published by the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Ministry of Justice as a guide to interpret the current law.]Google Scholar
The Norwegian Penal Code, Available at: https://lovdata.no/dokument/NLE/lov/2005-05-20-28.Google Scholar
Statens sivilrettsforvaltning, 2020. Available at: https://img4.custompublish.com/getfile.php/4838511.2254.lz7wjtnwu7lkqw/A%CC%8Arsrapport+2020.pdf?return=www.sivilrett.no.Google Scholar
Faccini, L, Allel, CS. Mass violence in individuals with autism spectrum disorder and narcissistic personality disorder: a case analysis of Anders Breivik using the ‘path to intended and terroristic violence’ model. Aggression and Violent Behavior 2016; 31: 229–36.Google Scholar
Männynsalo, L, Putkonen, H, Lindberg, N, Kotilainen, I. Forensic psychiatric perspective on criminality associated with intellectual disability: a nationwide register-based study. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research 2009; 53(3): 279–88.Google Scholar
Salize, HJ, Dressing, H. Placement and Treatment of Mentally Disordered Offenders: Legislation and Practice in the European Union. Pabst Science Publishers, 2005.Google Scholar
Kaltiala-Heino, R. Involuntary commitment and detainment in adolescent psychiatric inpatient care. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 2010; 45(8): 785–93.Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×