NCJ Number
58232
Editor(s)
N J BERAN,
B G TOOMEY
Date Published
1979
Length
208 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE PROVIDED OF AN EVALUATION OF A SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN OHIO THAT REPRESENTS AN OVERLAP BETWEEN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS TO SERVE THE MENTALLY DISORDERED OFFENDER.
Abstract
THE EVALUATION RESEARCH PROJECT WAS CONDUCTED FROM 1972 TO 1975 BY THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY PROGRAM FOR THE STUDY OF CRIME AND DELINQUENCY AND PRODUCED EIGHT MONOGRAPHS, REPRODUCED HERE IN EDITED FORM, ON THE DELIVERY OF FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES. ALSO EXPLORED IN THE TEXT ARE CRITICAL ISSUES THAT FACE PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN THE PROVISION OF DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT SERVICES FOR MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS. THE VOLUME BEGINS WITH AN HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF THE MANAGEMENT OF THE MENTALLY DISORDERED INDIVIDUAL IN CONFLICT WITH CRIMINAL LAW FROM COLONIAL DAYS TO THE PRESENT AND TRACES TRENDS THAT HAVE SET THE STAGE FOR CURRENT LEGAL AND MEDICAL CONCERNS. THE RISE OF INSTITUTIONAL CONFINEMENT FOR THESE PERSONS, THE EVOLUTION OF THEIR DIAGNOSIS AS A SPECIAL OFFENDER TYPE, AND THE SUBSEQUENT DEVELOPMENT OF TESTS FOR COMPETENCY TO STAND TRIAL AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COURT CLINICS IS COVERED. THEN MAJOR FORENSIC QUESTIONS ARE DISCUSSED: THE SOCIAL CONTROL FUNCTION OF PSYCHIATRY, THE PREDICTION OF DANGEROUSNESS, AND PSYCHIATRIC DIVERSION FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN THREE EXPERTS' PERSPECTIVES OF THE PREDICTION-PREVENTION, PUNISHMENT-DETERRENCE, AND RADICAL VIEWS OF CRIMINOLOGY ARE EXPLORED. THE SECOND SECTION OF THE TEXT ADDRESSES THE OHIO EVALUATION PROJECT, AN ASSESSMENT OF THE BENEFITS OF COMMUNITY VERSUS INSTITUTIONAL CARE FOR MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS. RESULTS SHOW THAT A SERIOUS LACK OF COORDINATION EXISTS AMONG THE ELEMENTS OF THE OHIO FORENSIC SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM, THAT MORE AND MORE CLIENTS ARE BEING DIVERTED TO COMMUNITY CENTERS AND CIVIL MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTIONS, THAT THE PROPORTION OF PERSONS BEING FORENSICALLY EXAMINED AND WHO ARE CONVICTED OR ACCUSED OF MISDEMEANORS IS INCREASING, AND THAT THE CLIENT POPULATION AT THE STATE INSTITUTION IS BECOMING MORE HARD CORE. REFERENCES AND STUDY DATA ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)