NCJ Number
148597
Date Published
1994
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This document is an account of the progress made toward diverting mentally disturbed offenders from custodial remands and sentences.
Abstract
Prison custody not only adds to overcrowding, but is inappropriate for most mentally disturbed offenders. In many cases, imprisonment aggravates the condition of these offenders. The National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders offers detailed recommendations having to do with establishing local forums; local strategies; guidelines; publications; court liaisoning with probation, health, social service, and forensic psychiatric agencies; and staff training. The results of some past studies are reviewed. According to a 1990 study, more than one-third of adult male prisoners was mentally disturbed, including 3 percent very seriously disturbed. In 1993, 775 mentally disturbed prisoners were transferred to psychiatric hospitals.