The problems of the delusion of innocence in forensic psychiatry are dealt with in connection with three cases. The importance of early, adequate psychiatric care for delinquents, who fancied themselves innocent is mentioned:

• A person with a delusion of innocence is untreatable, if the treatment begins several years after the crime. The delusion is steeled.
• Delinquents with a steeled delusion of innocence relapse very rapidly during resocialisation or perpetrate a still more serious crime.
• The delusion of innocence can fade away by early, adequate psychotherapeutic care and so the chance of recidivism is strongly diminished.

The importante of the delusion of innocence in every day life and psychoanalytic practice is briefly mentioned.