NCJ Number
58928
Journal
Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: (1976) Pages: 275-280
Date Published
1976
Length
6 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE SOCIOLEGAL PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTATION STRATEGY TO EVALUATE INDIVIDUALS REFERRED TO A COURT CLINIC ARE REPORTED; POPULATION DESCRIPTION TERMS INCLUDE SEX, AGE, RACE, AND DIAGNOSIS.
Abstract
THE POPULATION STUDIED WAS DRAWN FROM 100 CONSECUTIVE REFERRALS TO THE NEW YORK CLINIC IN THE SUMMER OF 1974. A 1-YEAR FOLLOW UP WAS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE OUTCOMES OF THE INDIVIDUALS' LEGAL CHARGES AND THE PSYCHIATRIC RECOMMENDATIONS. EIGHTY-SIX PERCENT OF THE POPULATION STUDIED WAS BETWEEN 15 AND 35 YEARS OF AGE. CHARACTER DISORDERS WERE DIAGNOSED IN 41 PERCENT OF THE CASES, EFFECTIVE PSYCHOSIS IN 2 PERCENT, ORGANIC BRAIN SYNDROME IN 5 PERCENT, SITUATIONAL DISORDERS IN 15 PERCENT, AND NO MENTAL DISORDERS WERE DIAGNOSED IN 9 PERCENT OF THE CASES. COURT REFERRALS ACCOUNTED FOR 64 PERCENT OF THE GROUP; 36 PERCENT WERE REFERRED BY A FAMILY MEMBER. WITH REGARD TO PSYCHIATRIC RECOMMENDATIONS, TREATMENT WAS INDICATED IN 63 PERCENT OF THE CASES. IN CONSIDERATION OF THE LEGAL OUTCOME OF THE CHARGES AGAINST EVALUATED INDIVIDUALS, CHARGES WERE DROPPED IN 28 PERCENT OF THE CASES, 22 PERCENT WENT TO JAIL, 16 PERCENT WERE PUT ON PROBATION, AND A NOT GUILTY VERDICT RENDERED IN 5 PERCENT. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR INVOLVEMENT WITH THE INDIVIDUALS WAS INDICATED IN 35 PERCENT OF THE REFERRALS, PSYCHIATRIC RESPONSIBILITY INDICATED FOR 12 PERCENT, AND LEGAL AND PSYCHIATRIC RESPONSIBILITY FOUND FOR 53 PERCENT. THE NECESSITY OF THE COLLABORATIVE APPROACH SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED, AND COMMUNITIES SHOULD DEVISE METHODS WHICH WILL FACILITATE COMMUNICATION AND ACCESSIBLITY OF LEGAL AND PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES, SUCH AS ESTABLISHING SATELLITE MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS NEAR THE COURTS. STATISTICS AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (LWM)