NCJ Number
131187
Date Published
1990
Length
18 pages
Annotation
New York State's conditional release (CR) program for 188 insanity acquittees is evaluated regarding its operation and effectiveness and is compared with the Oregon Psychiatric Security Review Board (PSRB) system and the California programs.
Abstract
The study cohort included 188 clients active on Order of Conditions (OC) between September 1980 and September 1987. Background information was obtained on the therapist, procedures utilized in monitoring the clients, activities performed, therapists opinion of the monitoring process, and recommendations for improving the program as well as demographic information, mental health history, and prior criminal justice history of each member of the cohort. The majority of the cohort was diagnosed with major mental illness, schizophrenia, or other psychoses. About 98 percent of the cohort were acquitted for felonies: 20 percent for homicide and 66 percent for crimes of violence including murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, sexual assault, rape, and robbery. The majority of the active clients received individual therapy from a clinic program about twice a month. Other services included psychiatric assessment, case management, and continuing treatment. At the end of the study period, the average time in the community for clients in this study cohort was over three and a half years (3.8 years). Less than one-quarter (22 percent) was subsequently arrested while on CR, 23 percent were involuntarily hospitalized, and 5 percent were recommitted to secure forensic facilities. This study indicates that the NYS CR program is performing an adequate job of providing clients with clinical needs and protecting the public. 1 footnote, 5 tables, and 1 graph