Finnish prisoners suffer from more illnesses than 20 years ago

Two of three inmates diagnosed with personality disorders, 15% classified as psychopaths

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Prison inmates and convicts serving suspended sentences or doing community service are sicker than 20 years ago, according to the results of an extensive study by the Criminal Sanctions Agency.
      "The results are rather shocking. There is much illness among the prisoners", says Heikki Vartiainen, head physician at the Criminal Sanctions Agency.
      The change applies to ailments of all types, but mental problems have seen the greatest increase.
      More than two thirds of prisoners suffer from some kind of a personality disorder.
      Antisocial personality disorders and serious mental disturbances, as well as depression are also much more common among prisoners than in the population at large.
      As many as 15 per cent of prisoners - more than 500 individuals - are classified as psychopaths - people incapable of empathising with the suffering of others.
      "The number is 15 times higher than among the population at large", Vartiainen says.
     
In 2005 the Criminal Sanctions Agency initiated an extensive study on prisoner health, work capacity, and need for treatment.
      Information was collected on 700 prison inmates, as well as convicts during community service.
      The previous comprehensive study on the health of prisoners was conducted 20 years ago.
      In addition to ordinary medical check-ups, the new studiy examined questions such as substance abuse, mental health problems, and capacity for work.
      Now the material has been almost completely compiled, and initial results have been calculated.
      "The material is fairly representative, and I do not believe that the final results will change the impression", Vartiainen says.
     
Vartiainen adds that the initial results reflect a global trend.
      A key part of that trend is the sharp increase in the number of prisoners who are addicted to intoxicants.
      Of Finnish male inmates, nine out of ten have some kind of an addiction. Of prisoners serving life sentences, 70 per cent are alcoholics, while 65 per cent of women prisoners are dependent on drugs.
      "Intoxicants increase aggressive behaviour. Crimes are committed either to get drugs, or under their influence", Vartiainen says.
      He notes that problems in a prisoner's life are intertwined.
      "Intoxicants increase the development of physical diseases, and psychological problems are also linked with them", Vartiainen says.
      "There are relatively few hard-boiled criminals in Finland. Most of the criminals are marginalised from society."
     
The growth in addictions among prisoners is probably also linked with the fact that the prison population itself has changed significantly in the past two decades.
      In 1985 the most frequent crimes committed by Finnish convicts were those involving theft, with 1,500 people serving sentences for stealing. In 2006, this had gone down to about 600.
      At the same time, the number of prisoners who were convicted for crimes of violence has nearly doubled.
      The number of violent prisoners was about 700 in 1985. Last year it was over 1,200.
     
Prisoners' health can be improved in Vartiainen's view through sufficient rehabilitation while behind bars.
      "I don't mean that piles of money should simply be thrown in there, but present resources should be utilised to greater effect."
      The new imprisonment law that took effect last autumn calls for more effective rehabilitation.
      Vartiainen is slightly pessimistic, but he notes that only one third of first-time prisoners return to jail later.
      "For instance, substance abuse work among prisoners could follow the rules of health care better than now, but I think that things will continue as they have before", he says.


Links:
  Criminal Sanctions Agency

Helsingin Sanomat