Study of Factors Affecting on Evaluation of Sex Offenders' Criminal Responsibility

Jin Woo Kim; Jong Hyuk Choi; Mi Yu; Jin Young Lee; Geumsook Shim

doi:10.4306/jknpa.2017.56.2.84

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Kim, Choi, Yu, Lee, and Shim: Study of Factors Affecting on Evaluation of Sex Offenders' Criminal Responsibility

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2017; 56(2): 84-88.

Published online: 30 May 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2017.56.2.84

Study of Factors Affecting on Evaluation of Sex Offenders' Criminal Responsibility

Jin Woo Kim, MD¹, Jong Hyuk Choi, MD¹, Mi Yu, MD¹, Jin Young Lee, MD¹, Geumsook Shim, MD, PhD²

¹Department of Psychiatry, National Forensic Hospital, Gongju, Korea.

²KAIST Clinic Pappalardo Center, KAIST, Daejeon, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Geumsook Shim, MD, PhD. KAIST Clinic Pappalardo Center, KAIST, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Korea. Tel +82-42-350-0540, Fax +82-42-350-0510, geumsookshim@gmail.com

Received 13 January 2017 Revised 8 March 2017 Accepted 8 March 2017

Abstract

Objective

This study analyzed factors affecting feeble-mindedness or insanity following a forensic evaluation for sex offenders, and to present a scientific basis that can provide practical assistance on a responsibility evaluation of sex offenders.

Methods

This study analyzed retrospectively 180 mental appraisals on sex offenders among mental appraisals documented by one psychiatrist from June, 2012 to December, 2015 at the National Forensic Hospital.

Results

Of the 180 mental appraisals, 123 people (68.3%) were found to be feeble-minded or insane, and 57 people (31.7%) were considered to be sane, i.e., competent to take responsibility. The two groups were different in IQ, occupational & marital status, victim numbers, psychiatric diagnosis, and sex offender characteristics, such as violence and intrusiveness. After evaluating the influence of variables that showed significant differences between the two groups on a responsibility assessment, sex offenders with fewer invasive sex offenses (OR=1.763, p<0.05), lower IQ (OR=1.031, p<0.01), lower numbers of victims (OR=1.349, p<0.05), and higher number of mental illnesses (OR=0.507, p<0.05) were more likely found to be feeble-minded or insane.

Conclusion

This study indicates that criminal responsibility may be intact in repeat sex offenders who commit invasive sex crimes, such as rape, and is without intellectual disability compared to other kinds of sex offenders. Subsequent research will be needed to improve the objectivity and reliability of mental appraisals on sex offenders in the future.

Keywords: Sex offenders, Criminal responsibility, Insanity

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Demographic and clinical characteristics of the sex offender and the victim

M : Mean, SD : Standard deviation, n : Number

Table 2

Characteristics of the sex offence and the victim

M : Mean, SD : Standard deviation, n : Number

Table 3

Logistic regression analysis on criminal responsibility using the variables that differed significantly between two groups

Above table shows the logistic regression coefficient (β, log OR), S.E. (S.E. of β), Wald χ² statistic (which tests the unique contribution of each predictor in the context of the other predictors), and adjusted OR with 95% CI. OR : Odds ratio, CI : Confident interval, S.E. : Standard error

Notes

^{Conflicts of Interest} The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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