[Treatment of especially severe sex offenses]

Abstract

"Therapy" is a currency with two different notations, as far as court practice is concerned. If the offences are of a minor nature, such as exhibitionism, the judge will usually expect the expert to mention the word, which prompts him to refer the delinquent to a therapist without delay, even if he is not at all hopeful that therapy may be successful. "Therapy" is an inflationary currency. In severe cases, its notation is correspondingly lower. This development has been promoted by the increasing division between forensic and therapeutic perspectives in psychiatry. The difficulties resulting therefore are discussed, taking the example of expertise and therapy of a patient accused of attempted murder as basis. Suggestions are advanced in what manner this division between forensic and therapeutic psychiatry could be avoided or even reduced in future.