When deciding to transfer a patient from high-security care, the most important determinant will often be the likelihood of further violence. Despite this, there are surprisingly few data to inform the clinician on the risks posed by particular groups. We compared the outcome of a group of mentally disordered offenders convicted of either parricide (n = 53) or the killing of a stranger (n = 71) after their release from high-security care (mean duration of follow-up = 6 years). All the patients were released still subject to restriction orders under the Mental Health Act 1983. None of the sample committed a further homicide during the follow-up and their history of further violence was also low. These data add further evidence to the widely held view that transfer from high-security care may be unduly restrictive.
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