Profiling Saskatchewan’s not criminally responsible and unfit to stand trial population: Sociodemographic, clinical, and criminological characteristics and recidivism outcomes

Abstract

Given the independent nature of the provincial and territorial review boards (RBs) in Canada and observed differences in forensic populations across the country, research examining specific forensic subpopulations at the provincial level is essential. The current study is the first to examine those found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder (NCRMD) and unfit to stand trial (UST) in Saskatchewan, Canada and focuses on sociodemographic, mental health, and criminological characteristics. Information was coded from hospital files of 138 individuals hospitalized at a forensic psychiatric hospital in Saskatchewan between November 1984 and January 2022. Although differences between those found NCRMD and UST were observed, most individuals had committed a violent offence as their most severe index offence. The predominant primary diagnosis among individuals found NCRMD was a psychotic spectrum disorder, with those found UST being diagnosed with a psychotic spectrum disorder or intellectual/cognitive disorder at equal rates. Those found NCRMD and UST were hospitalized for an average of 5.2 and 2.9 years, respectively. Overall, 18.3% of the sample recidivated, with higher rates observed among those found UST and substance use disorder diagnoses being most predictive of outcome across groups. Cross-jurisdictional comparisons of NCRMD admissions specifically demonstrated Saskatchewan to have particularly high overrepresentation of Indigenous persons, rates of certain diagnoses (e.g., psychotic spectrum, substance use) and mental health symptoms at the time of index offence (e.g., hallucinations, delusions, homicidal ideation), and patients who had a violent index offence or formal criminal history pre-verdict.