NHS consultants who are asked to accept Special Hospital patients can judge the prognosis, since the extent of both psychiatric and criminal histories provides the most accurate prediction of future behaviour. Patients discharged to the community have different outcomes from those transferred to NHS hospitals, but overall about one in five of those released are returned to a Special Hospital; up to one in two will subsequently be convicted, but the offences are mainly trivial and directed at property. Perhaps one in ten will be involved in serious or homicidal acts of violence.