Current Offense Information

Mr. Martens was 27 years old when he committed this offense. As often was the case, he had had several drinks prior to the offense. Intoxicated, he decided to steal some money from a convenience store. The clerk gave him all the money in the till (only $25), and Mr. Martens, upset by the modest sum, beat the clerk over the head with a baseball bat. When the clerk fell to the ground, Mr. Martens fled on foot. He was, however, caught on camera, and being known to the police, was apprehended within an hour of the offense. At the time of the offense, Robert was living with friends. He was not a contributing roommate, and often lived with other people without paying his way.

Childhood

Roberts parents separated when he was less than one year old. Robert stayed with his mother, and they moved around a lot. He began stealing at the age of 5. And from the age of 12, he was in and out of youth detention centers for crimes ranging from auto theft to breaking and entering. He was a discipline problem at school from early elementary school on, and was expelled from school on numerous occasions. While he never technically passed a grade, he was always moved on to the next grade. He dropped out of school during grade 9.

Occupational

Mr. Martens has a history of not being able to hold down a job. Most of his attempts at employment end after days, or weeks. He has had many jobs, and prefers not to work, choosing instead to fly a sign, which amounts to begging for money from people who do work. He has often bragged that he is able to pull in $500 on a good day. He has no plans for the future. He dislikes society and all that it stands for. In reference to his crimes, he has stated that they shouldnt be against the law, and has repeatedly praised other criminals for getting away with crimes.

Substance Use

Mr. Martens has used LSD, heroine, cocaine, and marijuana (in varying quantities/frequencies). The major concern is his alcohol use. He begins every day with alcohol and continues to drink throughout. At times (e.g. family events), he avoids alcohol, and ends up having he shakes or other symptoms of withdrawal. As mentioned previously, his crimes are usually preceded by drinking to excess.

Criminal History (adult)

4 convictions for assault

3 drug related offenses

5 convictions for theft over $1000

3 convictions for B&E

2 violations of conditional release

1 robbery

Psychological Assessment

Mr. Martens has been previously diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder. As well, he has been assessed on the Psychopathy Checklist Revised, and was scored at 37, which is an extremely high score. He also has an above average IQ (121).

His score on the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide places him at very high risk to reoffend violently.

1. What is the risk level of Mr. Martens? (1 mark)

2. What does that mean in terms of priority for treatment in prison? (1 mark)

3. Did you spot any criminogenic needs as you read through the case study? If so, how do they relate to his criminal behavior and how might you target this for treatment? (3 marks)

4. Are there any issues that would affect responsivity? In other words, what might affect Mr. Martens ability to respond to treatment? (1 marks)