Psychological Assessment in Jails - Implementation of the Standards Recommended by the National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards (From Mental Health Services in Local Jails - Report of a Special National Workshop, P 100-125, 1982, Christopher S Dunn and Henry J Steadman, ed. - See N

• NCJ Number: 85923
• Author(s): E I Megargee
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 26 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Available on microfiche as NCJ-85919

Annotation

Recommendations by the National Advisory Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and Goals on the diagnostic, classification, and treatment programs that should be available in local adult correctional institutions expect jails to perform assessment functions at three distinct stages -- at initial screening, upon pretrial detention, and upon postconviction incarceration.

Abstract

Each of these stages presents its own ethical and practical problems for the assessment psychologists. The general obstacles diagnosticians encounter in the jail setting are limitations on staff, space, and resources and lack of cooperation from both subjects and the general correctional environment. Confidentiality requirements contrast with those of private practice or other mental health settings, a particularly vital issue in the context of a defendant's legal rights. Jail assessment is further hampered by mental health professionals, lack of criminal justice training. Initial screening is the point of decision about who should be diverted to noncriminal justice community programs and who should be detained pending trial. The volune of cases, the brief examining time allotted, and practical and ethical constraints on testing arrested individuals argue against direct testing by mental health professionals. Instead, intake and custodial personnel should be trained to recognize and refer cases appearing to require professional mental health intervention. At the pretrial detention stage, assessment should identify inmates with special problems and administer personality test to aid in offender classification. The third stage is similar to the second, with emphasis on individual program planning for the confinement period, requiring personality, ability, achievement, and vocational interest testing. Research is needed at all three stages to test the validity of the procedures and instruments and to devise techniques better suited to the special needs of local adult institutions. Footnotes and 39 references are given.