NCJ Number
151726
Journal
Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 26 Issue: 1 Dated: (January-June 1994) Pages: 28-37
Date Published
1994
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Written by the President of the Mental Health Review Tribunal in Australia, this discussion of issues related to mentally ill offenders in Australia and the role of the Tribunal concludes that extensive government intervention in the forensic review system can prevent the needs of forensic patients from being addressed quickly and appropriately when their illnesses deteriorate to an acute phase.
Abstract
It can also result in their detention for excessive time periods in an unnecessarily strict custodial environment after acute psychiatric care has returned them to reasonable mental health. The Mental Health Review Tribunal has wide and extensive jurisdiction in relation to the care, treatment, and disposition of forensic patients. However, the Tribunal usually can only make recommendations. The government usually has ultimate authority over the disposition of forensic patients. Another concern is that the 31 mentally ill offenders in the prison and prison hospital at Long Bay Jail have no work, rehabilitation, or training programs. In addition, the Tribunal is concerned about the resources and programs available for female prisoners with mental illness, although it has been unable to investigate these concerns systematically. Finally, a basic problem is the operation of a major psychiatric facility within the grounds of a prison and on a corrections model rather than as a psychiatric hospital. This problem should be addressed constructively. Tables