PSYCHIATRIC CHARACTERISTICS OF FEMALE PRISONERS IN TASMANIA

Objective: The aim of the paper is to describe some of the psychiatric , social and criminological features of female prisoners in Tasmania b etween 1981 and 1990 inclusive. Method: Data were collated from prison records for all 210 women prisoners incarcerated between the above da tes. Using the Mental Health Services database it was determined which prisoners had prior contact with State Psychiatric Services, their cl inical state, various demographic data and ICD-9 diagnoses. Forensic d ata obtained from prison records were compared for those with and thos e without a psychiatric history of attendance at Mental Health Service s; appropriate privacy safeguards were used in handling the material. Results: Thirty-five per cent of prisoners had prior contact with the Mental Health Services before imprisonment. They were predominantly pe rsons with an abnormal personality. Non-addictive drug abuse was the n ext most common psychiatric category (19%), Only 3% suffered from schi zophrenia or affective disorder. Those with prior psychiatric presenta tion had greater social maladjustment, longer sentences for similar of fences and a higher recidivism rate. There was an increase in the numb er of prisoners with and without a psychiatric diagnosis during the de cade. Conclusions: Thirty-five per cent of the female prison populatio n had previously attended psychiatric services in the State. This is f ewer than reported in Britain and the US, probably because of the diff erent social structure of this community. These persons differ from ot her prisoners by showing greater impairment in social adjustments and relationships, They appear to be treated differently with respect to s entencing. There was no evidence of a simple reciprocal relationship b etween deinstitutionalisation and imprisonment.