Civil Commitment: International Issues (From Compulsory Treatment of Drug Abuse: Research and Clinical Practice, 192-208, 1988, Carl G Leukefeld and Frank M Tims, eds. -- See NCJ-115939)

• NCJ Number: 115945
• Author(s): B S Brown
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 17 pages
• Sale Source: Superintendent of Documents, GPO; National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This analysis of civil commitment procedures for drug abusers in 43 nations focuses on the grounds for commitment, the sources of requests for civil commitment for drug abusers, treatment programming, discharge, review procedures, and the effectiveness of the procedures.

Abstract

Porter and others reported in 1986 that 27 of the 43 countries surveyed provide for civil commitment under selected conditions, and 15 countries have civil commitment legislation specific to drug abuse. Six conditions have been described as necessary to carry out civil commitment procedures. These include the appearance of a major risk to the larger society as a result of a subgroup's inappropriate behavior, the capacity to generate significant public support for containing those behaviors, and a method for identifying and isolating the subgroup with the offending behaviors. In addition, the offending subgroup must lack the capability of mounting competing political pressures on its own behalf, mechanisms must be available to process and confine these individuals, and a belief must exist in the community's ability to develop methods that humanely change individuals' behaviors. 17 references.