This study aims to investigate Swedish language reading ability of forensicpatients and the number of them that present a dyslexia profile. Anotheraim is to compare the reading level in different subtypes of psychiatricdiagnoses. Assessments were made of 185 patients by a battery of readingtests. They were also interviewed about their schooling and theirself-estimated reading and writing ability. The results show that thepatients’ reading level is below average for grade six children in Swedishcompulsory school, and that 16 per cent show a dyslexic profile. Malepatients with an immigrant background and a diagnosis of psychosis andanxiety disorders perform the lowest when measuring literacy skills. Thisproportionately low reading ability can cause difficulties in understandingtexts as presented in broadsheet newspapers, civic information and patientrecords, and might even jeopardize the understanding of adult spokenlanguage.