Social Control of Deviants in Six Counties

Abstract

Descriptive information on the social control network for deviants in 6 countries with diverse social, economic and cultural backgrounds has been collected and compared. In each country it was possible to identify a sequence by which deviant behaviour is controlled and managed, consisting of 5 stages: discovery, official screening, disposal, release and after-care. It was also possible to make a clear distinction between the mental health systems and the criminal justice systems in each country. Differences were apparent in the extent of community involvement in the discovery stage and in the role of the primary level of health services. In some instances, differences were also apparent between rural and urban areas and between the way in which rich and poor people were handled. In all countries community after-care services are insufficient, particularly for offenders released from the prison system.

This report is based on the first phase of a WHO collaborative study. It forms the basis for further work currently in progress which includes: (a) a review of laws to identify situations in which dangerousness is used as a criterion; (b) a study of consecutive cases of patients admitted against their will to mental hospitals and of individuals on whom the courts request psychiatric reports; and (c) a study of the reliability and reasons for dangerousness assessment made by various professional groups and based on a standard set of case histories.