5th Edition

Offenders, Deviants or Patients? An introduction to clinical criminology

By Herschel Prins Copyright 2016
    372 Pages 2 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    372 Pages 2 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    Offenders, Deviants or Patients? provides a practical approach to understanding both the social context and treatment of mentally disordered offenders. Taking into account the current public concern, often heightened by media sensationalism; it addresses issues such as sex and ‘historic sex offending, ‘hate’ crime, homicide and other acts of serious bodily harm. 

    This fifth edition is fully updated and incorporates the latest research and reflects recent changes in law, policy and practice, including:  

    DSM-V criteria

    groundbreaking work on neuro-physiological aspects of psychopathy

    the Coroners and Justice Act

    Using new case examples, Herschel Prins draws on his own expertise and experience to examine the relationship between mental disorders and crime and looks at the ways in which it should be dealt with by the mental health care and criminal justice systems. Offenders, Deviants or Patients? is unique in its multidisciplinary approach and will be invaluable to all those who come into contact with serious offenders or those who study crime and criminal behaviour.

    Concerning the Author – Reflections and Recollections. Troubled and Troublesome Minds – An Orientation. The Mentally Disordered and Criminal Responsibility – a Brief Introduction to the Law. Forensic Mental Health and Allied Service Provision. Psychopathic Disorder – Useful Concept or Moral Judgement?, Aggression and Violence – Extending the Boundaries. Homicide. Sexual Conduct and Sexual Misconduct. Arson – or ‘What you will’. Assessing Dangerousness – A Risky Business. Concluding Comments.

    Biography

    Herschel Prins has worked in the fields of criminal justice and forensic mental health for over sixty years. He has served on a number of public and voluntary bodies and authored numerous books and articles.

    "… Prins himself has crossed boundaries in his career – practitioner, Probation Officer, and academic – the book remains filled with observations from and about music, art, literature and contemporary culture which takes his prose about what some might regard as essentially dry, socio-forensic matters into a whole new realm of academic writing. In other words, Offenders, Deviants or Patients? remains what it has always been - a delight to actually read. This is not something I could say about many academic books." - From the Foreword, Professor David Wilson, Centre for Applied Criminology, Birmingham City University