NCJ Number
145183
Date Published
1993
Length
67 pages
Annotation
England has established various schemes to divert the mentally disordered offender from the criminal justice system. This report examines the impact of such a scheme -- the panel assessment scheme -- in three British jurisdictions.
Abstract
Under panel assessment schemes, probation officers, social workers, psychiatrists, and other health professionals meet to decide how to best manage mentally disordered offenders. The panel convenes for each case and produces a treatment package to the agency that has referred to case to the panel. The first panel assessment scheme was established in Hertfordshire in 1985; since then, seven other probation areas have adopted similar schemes. This report describes the impact of the scheme in Hertfordshire and two other areas over a 1-year period. The researchers used three techniques to examine the scheme's impact. First scheme coordinators completed a monitoring from on every case referred to them between April 1, 1991, and April 1, 1992. Second, Home Office staff examined magistrates' court records to assess the impact of the panel assessment scheme on requests for psychiatric reports and on court dispositions. Third, researchers interviewed professionals in each area who manage mentally disordered offenders. The number of cases referred to panels in the three areas and the extent to which agencies acted upon the recommendations suggest that practitioners view the schemes positively. This report concludes that management support and the cooperation of general psychiatrists are essential if panel assessments are to provide a consistent and useful service. 9 references and 12 tables