Healthcare professionals and opposition to court-ordered treatment for offenders: the end of a 'French exception'?

Abstract

Court-ordered treatment for offenders who suffer from psychiatric disorders or addiction has been the subject of controversy in all Western countries, but opposition in France has been more widespread than elsewhere. Based on 100 interviews, this article nonetheless reveals that healthcare professionals have gradually accepted court-ordered treatment, which they provide both inside and outside correctional facilities. We argue that, with few exceptions, they now agree that given offenders' frequent unwillingness to seek treatment, constraint can lead to creating a therapeutic alliance, although it is a complex process that involves employing a variety of techniques. To overcome offenders' suspicions that they are working with the courts, they claim to be complete outsiders who keep their distance from the judicial system and its expectations. We find that, despite greater acceptance of court-ordered treatment, these professionals perpetuate France's distinctive system and fuel the growing criticism from prosecutors, judges, and corrections system personnel.