NCJ Number
181565
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 43 Issue: 3 Dated: September 1999 Pages: 262-274
Date Published
September 1999
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study examined factors that affected the length of stay in Maryland's only maximum-security forensic hospitals for mentally ill persons who were adjudicated not criminally responsible for serious violent crimes.
Abstract
The research used records from 148 persons whose case had been presented to a Forensic Review Board in the 5 years since its inception. The research focused on the combined effects of demographic, legal, and clinical variables on the length of stay in these individuals who had been approved for transfer to a less restrictive setting to determine what, if any variables should be targeted for services during hospitalization. Results revealed that male offenders remained hospitalized for a significantly longer period than did female offenders. In addition, having been employed prior to the offense was predictive of shorter length of stay regardless of the type or duration of employment. Findings indicated that, in addition to gender, history of employment prior to the offense was the strongest predictor of length of stay. Three other variables contributed less significantly to the prediction model. Findings have program implications for forensic psychiatric facilities treating persons with serious mental illness. Figures, table, and 26 references (Author abstract modified)