NCJ Number
152929
Journal
American Jails Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: (May-June 1993) Pages: 45-48
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The Orange County (N.Y.) Department of Mental Health's Forensic Mental Health Clinic operates inside the Orange County Jail 6 days per week, approximately 15 hours per day (7 hours on Saturday) and has proved to be successful in meeting the needs of inmates.
Abstract
The program has the full support and endorsement of both the correctional administrator and the county sheriff. The program began following a court consent judgment that resulted from an inmate lawsuit regarding the conditions of confinement at the jail, which currently has an average daily population of more than 400. The clinic's functions include crisis intervention, supportive counseling, medication therapy, and discharge planing for followup care upon release. Other functions are screening and referral to Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups meeting in the jail, other alcohol and drug counseling, routine and emergency psychiatric evaluation and treatment, suicide prevention and intervention, liaison between the inmate and other professional agencies or persons, work with corrections staff in decisionmaking about housing inmates, and the provision of resource information and training for correctional personnel responsible for the security of inmates with special needs. All persons receiving services from the forensic clinic sign a statement that their participation is voluntary. Confidentiality is strictly observed.