NCJ Number
63483
Date Published
1979
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THE FORENSIC UNIT OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER OF POLK COUNTY, FLORIDA, IS DESCRIBED; PROVISION AND IMPACT OF SERVICES IS EVALUATED AND COST EFFECTIVENESS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ARE HIGHLIGHTED.
Abstract
THE UNIT IS PRESENTLY IN ITS FOURTH YEAR OF LEAA FUNDING, AND WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM OF POLK COUNTY WITH COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. UNIT PERFORMANCE IN PROVIDING SERVICES WAS EXAMINED FOR THREE MAJOR CATEGORIES: MENTAL EVALUATIONS, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, AND CONSULTATION AND EDUCATION. THE PROJECTED NUMBER OF MENTAL EVALUATIONS WHICH THE UNIT STATED AS A MEASURABLE OBJECTIVE WAS COMPARED TO THE ACTUAL NUMBER OF EVALUATIONS COMPLETED. TREATMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS IN THE POLK COUNTY JAIL AND POLK COUNTY STOCKADE WAS EXAMINED FOR THE FIRST 3 YEARS OF THE UNIT'S OPERATION AND THE YEAR PROCEEDING UNIT ESTABLISHMENT. CONSULTATION AND EDUCATION SERVICES WERE EVALUATED BY COMPARING THE UNIT'S STATED MEASURABLE OBJECTIVES AGAINST ACTUAL SERVICES PROVIDED. SERVICES IMPACT WAS EXAMINED THROUGH QUESTIONNAIRES COMPLETED BY AGENCIES TO WHICH THE UNIT PROVIDES SERVICES. IN ADDITION, COST EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS AND A STATE ASSESSMENT WERE COMPLETED. THE UNIT WAS SUCCESSFUL IN MEETING THE NUMERICAL GOAL OF CONDUCTING BETWEEN 30 AND 45 MENTAL EVALUATIONS PER QUARTER, AND DOUBLED OR TRIPLED THE NUMBER OF TREATMENT SESSIONS PROVIDED DURING EACH QUARTER ANALYZED. IT ALSO MET THE GOAL OF PROVIDING MENTAL HEALTH CLASSES TO POLICE OFFICERS AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT PROVIDE ANTICIPATED INTENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING FOR OFFICERS BECAUSE OF LIMITED TIME. TEN PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS WERE PRESENTED. COSTS FOR ALL SERVICES WERE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW PRIVATE COSTS, AND THE PROGRAM WAS EVALUATED AS A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL MODEL. TABULAR INFORMATION AND AN APPENDIX ARE PROVIDED IN THE EVALUATION. (LWM)