The therapeutic needs and possibilities of persons in detention assessed immediately after release

: Immediately before release, all detainees in Slagelse were assessed with the object of providing relevant therapeutic offers on the basis of the established therapeutic system. This investigation comprised 24 placements in detention of 20 individuals. The persons who had been placed in detention were mainly young single men with unstable employment histories. 33% were placed in detention in order to protect themselves because they were unable to take care of themselves on account of alcohol intoxication. These should rather have been observed by health staff. 67% were placed in detention because they were committing a breach of the place. It was obvious that there was a great need for supportive measures and treatment of addiction but only two out of 20 desired a therapeutic offer. These two were already in touch with the therapeutic system. Three persons considered that they were in an acute crisis. On the basis of assessment of the personalities of the persons in detention and their lack of motivation to commence a therapeutic programme, it is concluded that the existing therapeutic system could not provide further measures as regards long-term treatment. In this investigation one individual was placed in detention three times. For him detention had the nature of a "social braking function", which must be criticised.