Recent research from USA has shown that patients with mental disorder discharged into disorganised neighbourhoods commit more violence then patients discharged into more organized neighbourhoods (Silver, 2000; Silver, Mulvey & Monahan, 2001). To what extent these findings are true to welfare states in Europe is uncertain.

The aim of the project is to study the connection between violence by mentally disordered offenders, and the level of social disorganization in the neighbourhoods where they live. Ten neighbourhoods, which can be divided into 50 smaller quarters, in Stockholm to where psychiatric patients are discharged, will be classified in terms of social disorganization. The number of violent incidents will be analyzed from the level of disorganization in the different neighbourhoods and quarters.

Research question:
Do psychiatric patients discharged into neighbourhoods with high social disorganization commit more violent acts than those discharged into more organized neighbourhoods?

page updated: 2008-03-26