[Development of forensic psychiatry (section 63 StGB) in North-Rhine-Westphalia. Comparison of the current situation with introduction of the forensic psychiatry regulation (MRVG-NW) 10 years ago].

In a cross-sectional study we analysed the present situation of mentally disordered offenders treated in forensic hospitals of North Rhine-Westphalia under section 63 StGB-in comparison with the first block sampling in 1984. One of the important findings was that there has been an increase in violence in respect of the index delinquency as well as the criminal record. Those patients who were again committed to a forensic hospital showed more violent criminal offences too. The average duration of hospitalisation has been reduced from 6.1 to 4.8 years.