Firesetters with intellectual disabilities in Denmark
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JIDOB-10-2019-0021 |
| Pages | 72-81 |
| Published date | 28 November 2019 |
| Date | 28 November 2019 |
| Author | Søren Holst,Dorte Lystrup,John L. Taylor |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities,Offending behaviour,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Deviant behaviour,Education,Special education/gifted education,Emotional/behavioural disorders |
Firesetters with intellectual disabilities
in Denmark
Søren Holst, Dorte Lystrup and John L. Taylor
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to gather epidemiologicalinformation concerning firesetters with
intellectual disabilities (ID) in Denmark to identify the assessment and treatment needs of this population and
inform further research in this area.
Design/methodology/approach –The records held by the Danish Ministry of Justice concerning all
firesetters with ID convicted of deliberate firesetting were reviewed for the period January 2001 to December
2010 inclusive. File information was extracted for 83 offenders concerning: demographic and personal
characteristics; mental health characteristics; offending behaviour; offence-specific factors; and motives for
offending. A sub-group of seven offenders were interviewed to explore some of the themes that emerged
from the file review.
Findings –The majority of study participants were male and were classified as having mild ID and around 50
per cent had additional mental health problems. Many came from disturbed and deprived backgrounds.
Two-thirds had set more than one fire and over 60 per cent had convictionsfor offences other than firesetting.
Alcohol was involved in the firesetting behaviour in a significant proportion of cases (25 per cent). The motives
for setting fires were –in descending order –communication (of anger, frustration and distress), fire
fascination and vandalism. Interviews with participants indicated the important communicative function of
firesetting, the difficulties people had in talking about and acknowledging their firesetting behaviour, and lack
of access to targeted interventions.
Research limitations/implications –Interventions for Danish firesetters with ID, as for firesetters with ID
elsewhere, need to target the communicative function of this behaviour, along with offenders’lack of insight
and initial reluctance to accept responsibility for their behaviour and associated risks. Adjunctive treatment is
required to address the psychiatric comorbidity experienced by many of these offenders, along with the
alcohol use/misuse that is associated with many of these offences.
Originality/value –This is the first study concerning nature and needs of firesetters with ID in Denmark.
Keywords Denmark, Motives, Disabilities, Intellectual, Co-morbidity, Firesetters
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
It is estimated that in Denmark, there are between 80,000 and 110,000 people with intellectual
disabilities (ID), which corresponds to between 1.5 and 2 per cent of the total population of 5.5m
(Sørensen and Larsen, 2006). This figure is consistent with research which estimates that in
England the population of people with ID is around 2 per cent, that is, 1.1m out of a total
population of circa 55m (Emerson et al., 2012).
In the Danish criminal justice system, peoplewith ID are defined as having a measuredIQ of 70 or
less, but individuals with higher IQs may be treated as if they have an ID if, on examination by a
psychiatrist, they are found to have clear social, drug or other psychosocial problems that affect
their level of intellectual and/or adaptive functioning. In the Danish system, as in several other
countries, peoplewith ID are considered “not punishable”bythe courts due to their lack of mens
rea or understandingthat their behaviour is wrong or unlawful.Following conviction suchoffenders
may be sent to secure facilities sanctioned under Section 108 of theServices Act for appropriate
treatment and support. The first two authors work at Kofoedsminde in Rødbyhavn, Denmark.
Received 11 October 2019
Revised 18 October 2019
Accepted 18 October 2019
Søren Holst and Dorte
Lystrup are both based
at Kofoedsminde,
Rødby, Denmark.
John L. Taylor is based at
NorthumbriaUniversity –Coach
Lane Campus, Newcastleupon
Tyne, UK.
PAGE72
j
JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND OFFENDING BEHAVIOUR
j
VOL. 10 NO. 4 2019, pp.72-81, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8824 DOI 10.1108/JIDOB-10-2019-0021
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