NCJ Number
58338
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
AN INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE ON ISSUES INVOLVING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND CORRECTIONS IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MEDICAL MODEL OF OFFENDER TREATMENT (COMPULSION, INDETERMINACY OF SENTENCES, SPURIOUS PROMISES OF SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT, INEFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT, DEGRADATION OF PATIENTS) ARE DISCUSSED. THE ROLE OF FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY IS CONSIDERED, WITH EMPHASIS ON VARIATIONS AMONG COUNTRIES IN THE LEGAL AND PENAL POLICIES AND MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICES AFFECTING THAT ROLE. THREE AREAS OF CONCERN REGARDING THE RELATIONSHIP OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND PENAL SERVICES ARE EXAMINED: (1) THE COERCIVE ASPECTS AND QUALITY OF PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT FOR OFFENDERS SERVING PRISON SENTENCES, (2) THE HANDLING OF PERSONS WHOSE MENTAL DISORDERS RENDER THEM NOT CRIMINALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTS, AND (3) THE DOUBLE ROLE OF FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY IN MAKING PATIENTS COMFORTABLE IN THEIR SITUATIONS AND IN CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR ADJUSTMENT TO SOCIETY. THE FINDINGS OF A BRITISH GOVERNMENT COMMISSION ON MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS ARE SAID TO REPRESENT APPROPRIATE DIRECTIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MEDICAL COMPONENT IN CRIME MANAGEMENT. AMONG THE COMMISSION'S RECOMMENDATIONS WERE THAT OFFENDERS WHOSE MENTAL ILLNESS IS EVIDENT SHOULD BE DIVERTED TO HEALTH SERVICES AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE STAGE OF THE LEGAL PROCESS, AND THAT THERE SHOULD BE PROVISIONS FOR TRANSFERRING ALL PRISONERS WITH MENTAL PROBLEMS (NOT ONLY THOSE WHO ARE PSYCHOTIC OR OTHERWISE SERIOUSLY HANDICAPPED) TO SPECIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR TREATMENT. (SUCH TRANSFERS WOULD NOT INTERFERE WITH THE DURATION OF AN OFFENDER'S SENTENCE, AND WOULD BE VOLUNTARY). THE PREVENTIVE, DIAGNOSTIC, AND TREATMENT ROLE OF FORENSIC PSYCHIATRISTS IN THE PRISON AND IN THE COMMUNITY IS NOTED.