A Psychiatric-Psychological Study of German Recidivists

According to German law, psychotic criminals cannot be punished, but are referred to psychiatrists; thus 'soc defense' measures take the place of penal ones. The practical results seem, on the whole, satisfactory since the % of psychotic recidivists is only between 1% & 3%. The psychol'al examination of about 700 non-psychotic recidivists indicates a characteristic combination of shallowness of feeling with a relatively low intelligence. (This does not apply, however, to certain sexual offenders.) This basic characteristic is enhanced or modified by other factors, mainly soc ones. The mere repetition of punishment alters this basic character structure of the recidivist as little as continuous beating enhance the intelligence of mental defectives. Both for reasons of humanity & rationality, sociotherapeutic instit's should be set up which aim at rehabilitation. HA.