NCJ Number
184593
Date Published
2000
Length
93 pages
Annotation
This volume explains the general principles that apply to providing psychiatric services in correctional institutions, details the services that should be provided in particular settings, and applies the principles and guidelines to particular populations such as persons with dual diagnosis and persons with developmental disabilities.
Abstract
The introductory sections note that upward of 700,000 persons entering the criminal justice system each year have active symptoms of serious mental disorders. In addition, 75 percent of these people have co-occurring drug abuse disorders. Moreover, persons with serious mental disorders are likely to stay incarcerated four or five times longer than similarly charged persons without mental disorders. Therefore, mental health professionals need to understand how to fulfill their personal moral principles, their professional ethics, and their public service obligations given limited resources and public and professional resistance. The guidelines cover principles relating to quality of care, education and training, consent, confidentiality, treatment, research, administrative issues, interprofessional relationships, access to care, cultural competence, suicide prevention, ethical issues, and diversion. They explain specific issues related to identification, treatment, and discharge planning for jails and for prison settings. Further sections explain the application of the guidelines to drug abusers, individuals with dual diagnosis, individuals with HIV/AIDS, women, juveniles in adult correctional facilities, elderly inmates, and inmates with mental retardation/developmental disability. Appended background information and index