MENTALLY DISORDERED OFFENDERS IN AN INTERIM REGIONAL MEDIUM SECURE UNIT

• NCJ Number: 65295
• Journal: Criminal Law Review Dated: (NOVEMBER 1979) Pages: 686-695
• Author(s): M FAULK
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: Sweet and Maxwell
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

THIS PAPER OUTLINES THE WORK AND EFFECT OF A PSYCHIATRIC UNIT SET UP IN WESSEX, ENGLAND, TO DEAL WITH MENTALLY DISORDERED OFFENDERS REFUSED ADMISSION INTO LOCAL PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS BUT REQUIRING PSYCHIATRIC CARE.

Abstract

THE REASON MENTALLY DISORDERED OFFENDERS ARE FREQUENTLY NOT ACCEPTED INTO REGULAR PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS IS THAT ALTHOUGH NOT DANGEROUS ENOUGH TO REQUIRE SPECIAL SECURITY HOSPITALIZATION, THEY ARE NEVERTHELESS TOO DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO BE MANAGED IN A MODERN PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL WHERE INFORMALITY AND FREEDOM ARE EMPHASIZED. CATEGORIES OF MENTAL DISORDER INCLUDE MENTAL ILLNESS, PSYCHOPATHIC DISORDER, SUBNORMALITY, AND OTHER DISORDERS OR DISABILITIES OF THE MIND. A SMALL PROPORTION OF CONVICTED OFFENDERS ARE MENTALLY DISORDERED WHOSE CARE PRESENTS ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE FACILITIES. REGIONAL MEDIUM SECURE UNITS WERE PROPOSED, AND THEIR IMPLEMENTATION BEGAN WITH INTERIM UNITS LIKE THE ONE DESCRIBED. THE UNIT IS HOUSED IN A CONVERTED HOSPITAL WARD AND CAN ACCEPT 14 INPATIENTS AND 10 DAY PATIENTS. SUPPORT FOR PATIENTS IN THE COMMUNITY IS PROVIDED THROUGH COMMUNITY NURSES AND THE OUTPATIENT FACILITIES. ALTHOUGH THE FACILITY CAN BE LOCKED, THE UNIT IS USUALLY RUN AS AN OPEN WARD. SECURITY IS MAINTAINED BY A MUCH HIGHER STAFFING RATIO THAN IN CONVENTIONAL PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS. MOST OF THE PATIENTS ARE ON CONTROLLED PAROLE. THEY ARE ACCEPTED IF THEY ARE MENTALLY ILL AND IN NEED OF HOSPITAL TREATMENT BUT TOO DANGEROUS OR DIFFICULT TO MANAGE IN AN ORDINARY PSYCHIATRIC WARD. THE PATIENTS ARE EITHER LEGALLY DETAINED OR ARE WILLING TO STAY AS INFORMAL PATIENTS OR AS A CONDITION OF PROBATION. BETWEEN JANUARY 1977 AND APRIL 1979 A TOTAL OF 97 ADMISSIONS WERE MADE, AND THE LENGTH OF TREATMENT RANGED FROM A FEW DAYS TO ALMOST 2 YEARS. THE SERVICE FILLED THE SPECIFIC NEED FOR WHICH IT WAS INSTITUTED, BUT THE DIFFICULTY OF DECIDING BETWEEN PENAL OR PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED.