Problems at school and criminality development

1. Ulf Engqvist PhD, Senior Lecturer Mid Sweden University, Dept. of Social Work Östersund ulf.engqvist@miun.se Problems at school and criminality development

2. The two studies A Follow up study of Former CAP-patients Pupils at a special approved home (reform school) A project that lasted two years conducted in in the midst of Sweden 82 pupils were investigated at admission according to an extended, refined routine including somatic, psychiatric, psychological, educational and social assessment • A project that lasted 12 years conducted in Jämtland county, Sweden • A longitudinal study descriptive in nature where 1,400 Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) patients were followed for 12 to 33 years

3. 1,400 former CAP-patients followed up for 12-33 years Mortality and suicide 38 (2,7%) (19 suicides) Convicted of offences 530 (37,9%) Schizophrenia and / or affective psychoses 62 (4,4%) General (adult) psychiatric care: 531 (37,9%)

4. 82 pupils at the special reform school Family situation: 80% had parents who were divorced 83% came from families with low socioeconomic status A quarter stated that there was criminality in the family One third stated that there was abuse among family members Teacher assessment of knowledge in Swedish, English and Mathematics and standardized reading tests Routine physical health assessment The Gordon Diagnostic System (Record Form Model III) Adolescent Drug Abuse Diagnosis (ADAD) and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) Conners-Wells’ Adolescent Self-Report Scales (CASS-S) Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III) and Raven's Progressive Matrices Psychiatric interview (DICA -R-A ) based on DSM

5. Convicted of offences 530 (37,9%) Every second male (55 %) and every fifth female (22% ) former CAP-patient were convicted of offenses

6. CAP-patients who had problems at school • There were more male than female (p ≤ 0.001) • More had inpatient care at CAP (p ≤ 0.001) • More had behavioural disorder or mental retardation and developmental problems as reason for admittance to CAP (p ≤ 0.001) • More died a premature death (p ≤ 0.001) and • More had General (adult) psychiatric care (≤ 0.01)

7. Problems at school and criminality among the 82 pupils in the special reform school Problems at school Criminality Any form of crime was listed for 81%. 77% of the boys and 61% of the girls were registered for some form of crime: Crime directed against persons, such as assault, robbery, or both, 53%. Crime directed against objects, such as shoplifting, theft, vandalism, driving without a license was listed for 73% Crimes against both persons and objects were noted for 45% • Three quarters was judged to be low achievers in school • 93% were observed for truancy • Nearly half (40%) had problems with learning and 46% had reading and writing difficulties • On average they performed almost three grade levels below the grade they belonged

8. Conclusion • From the two studies referred it can be stated that relationship problems, problems at school, behaviour problems as well as problems at school, must be paid attention to and that all authorities working with children, adolescents and their families and network must work focused and together around these problems to prevent criminality.

9. Thank you for your attention http://diss.kib.ki.se/2009/978-91-7409-519-7 ulf.engqvist@miun.se