NCJ Number
57259
Date Published
1977
Length
51 pages
Annotation
THE STATUS OF MAXIMUM SECURITY PSYCHIATRIC CARE IN PENNSYLVANIA IS ASSESSED, AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC CARE FOR MENTALLY-ILL OFFENDERS ARE OFFERED.
Abstract
THE DELIVERY OF PUBLIC SECTOR FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES IN PENNSYLVANIA HAS BEEN UNDERGOING CHANGE INDICATIVE OF LEGISLATIVE, JUDICIAL, PROFESSIONAL, AND PUBLIC ATTENTION TO PATIENT RIGHTS, DUE PROCESS CONSIDERATIONS, INVOLUNTARY TREATMENT, AND NEEDS OF MENTALLY-ILL PERSONS INVOLVED WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. A CLASSIFICATION SCHEME HAS BEEN DEVISED TO ASSIGN SECURITY RATINGS FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS THAT CONSIDERS SUCH TYPES OF PERSONS AS MENTALLY DISABLED DETENTIONERS, MENTALLY DISABLED OFFENDERS, AND PERSONS NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY. A GOVERNOR'S TASK FORCE HAS CONSIDERED VARIOUS WAYS OF PROVIDING FORENSIC PYSCHIATRIC CARE AND RECOMMENDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM MUST INCLUDE THE PROVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN STATE PRISONS, MULTILEVEL SECURE INPATIENT FORENSIC UNITS AT SELECTED STATE HOSPITALS, CRISIS INTERVENTION AND PREVENTIVE AND AFTERCARE SERVICES IN COUNTY JAILS, AND COUNTY COURT DIAGNOSTIC CLINICS. THE TASK FORCE BELIEVES THAT FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC CARE FOR WOMEN SHOULD FOLLOW THE SAME PATTERN AS FOR MEN AND INCLUDE EMERGENCY AND NONACUTE TREATMENT AVAILABLE THROUGH MENTAL HEALTH PERSONNEL IN JAILS AND PRISONS AND IN DECENTRALIZED, MULTILEVEL SECURE FORENSIC UNITS IN STATE HOSPITALS FOR WOMEN OFFENDERS. FORENSIC MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS IN OTHER STATES ARE SURVEYED. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC SYSTEM FOR PENNSYLVANIA IS CONSIDERED IN RELATION TO SYSTEM DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION, ORGANIZATIOAL FRAMEWORK, LEGISLATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS, AND ESTIMATED COSTS. DATA AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE INCLUDED, AND APPENDIXES PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE PLAN FOR FORENSIC MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN PENNSYLVANIA.