NCJ Number
156402
Journal
Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health Volume: 3 Issue: 4 Dated: (1993) Pages: 472-483
Date Published
1993
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Maximum-security hospitals for mentally disordered offenders in England and Australia may be too big; on the other hand, some are concerned that there is a size below which maximum-security containment may become financially inefficient, inhumane, or even dangerous.
Abstract
The authors consider the optimum size of high-security units for mentally disordered offenders, taking into account principles of rehabilitation, quality of care, cost-effectiveness, probable length of stay, the architecture of secure units, and the psychology of dangerous persons. Although the authors conclude that an optimum absolute size for high-security units cannot be established, they present a formula based on nearness to and population density of the community where inmates are housed. A maximum-security hospital in Sydney, Australia, is described in terms of security, staff, costs, and inmates. An ideal high- security unit for mentally disordered offenders is also characterized. 1 reference