[Multidimensional personality assessment in penal measures. An evaluation questionnaire as the deciding factor of...

Predicting dangerousness is both the explicit and implicit basis for the decision on derestrictions of penal measures (treatment of mentally ill offenders in psychiatric hospitals). However, recent publications either criticize the validity of the applied criteria or question whether a valid prognosis is in any way possible. Since 1985, the Westfälische Zentrum für Forensische Psychiatrie at Lippstadt has been applying a standardized rating questionnaire to defined derestrictions: The therapeutic team is approaching the prognostic evaluation with multidimensional patient data and ratings. In a population of 263 mentally ill offenders receiving inpatient psychiatric treatment according to section 63 of the German Penal Code (StGB), an interdisciplinary research program used 202 rating questionnaires to investigate the decision-making and prediction criteria of derestriction practice. Empirical data and multivariate statistical analyses revealed that the decisions based on the rating questionnaire were thoroughly explored and responsibly substantiated: The risk in performing derestrictions of penal measures is taken in an calculated and justifiable manner. It is pointed out that the prediction of dangerousness must be considered not only when approving the derestrictions but also during the derestriction itself.