NCJ Number
54827
Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEFENDER THERAPY AND COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY Volume: 19 Issue: 3 Dated: (1975) Pages: 219-227
Date Published
1975
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE WORK OF A COMMUNITY PSYCHIATRIC CENTER DEALING WITH ADULT AND JUVENILE OFFENDERS ON AN OUTPATIENT BASIS AND IN INSTITUTIONS IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
IN MAY 1964, THE FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC WAS OPENED IN GLASGOW, SCOTLAND. IN 1969, ITS NAME WAS CHANGED TO THE DOUGLAS INCH CLINIC ('CLINIC' LATER CHANGED TO 'CENTER'), IN HONOR OF THE MAN WHO PIONEERED FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY IN SCOTLAND AND ORIGINATED THE IDEA OF SUCH A CLINIC. CLIENTS REFERRED TO THE CENTER REPRESENT THE ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF BEHAVIOR PATTERNS AND PSYCHIATRIC CATEGORIES. THE AGE RANGE OF CLIENTS IS BROAD, BUT ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT OFFENDERS PREDOMINATE. THE MAJORITY ARE REFERRED BY THE COURTS, AND, SINCE APRIL 1971, BY CHILDREN'S PANELS. TABULAR DATA SHOW THE NUMBERS REFERRED, THE NUMBER OF ATTENDANCES, THE REFERRAL SOURCES, AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF PATIENTS FOR 1970 TO 1974. A DIAGNOSTIC BREAKDOWN FOR CLIENTS IS SHOWN FOR 1974. THE STAFF CONSISTS OF FOUR CONSULTANT PSYCHIATRISTS, FIVE SOCIAL WORKERS, THREE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS, ONE TEACHER, AND APPROPRIATE ADMINISTRATIVE AND CLERICAL STAFF. THERE ARE PLANS TO ADD AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND A YOUTH AND COMMUNITY SOCIAL WORKER. A DIAGRAM ILLUSTRATION IS USED TO SHOW HOW THE CENTER, WITH ITS HEALTH SERVICE ORIGIN AND ADMINISTRATION, LINKS UP WITH OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES DEALING WITH DELINQUENCY. THROUGH THE EFFORTS OF A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM, A DETAILED ASSESSMENT IS CONDUCTED FOR EACH CLIENT, AND A LONG-TERM PLAN IS WORKED OUT, INVOLVING TREATMENT MEASURES TO BE ADOPTED, ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATIONS TO BE SOUGHT, AND THE PERSONS TO BE INVOLVED. GROUP THERAPY, EITHER VERBAL OR PHYSICAL, IS THE TREATMENT METHOD MOST FREQUENTLY USED AT THE CLINIC. THE STAFF ALSO TEACHES COURSES TO VARIOUS PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND CONDUCTS RESEARCH ON THE BASIS OF DATA OBTAINED IN CENTER OPERATIONS. THE WORK WITH INSTITUTIONS HAS BEEN GENERALLY LIMITED TO CORRECTIONAL STAFF TRAINING AND CONSULTATION. WHILE NO OUTCOME EVALUATIVE STATISTICS ARE PRESENTED, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM APPROACH, GROUP WORK, AND LONG-TERM SUPPORTIVE THERAPY HELP TO PREVENT RECIDIVISM. PROJECTIONS FOR THE CENTER'S FUTURE DEVELOPMENT ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)