NCJ Number
114866
Journal
Journal of Offender Counseling, Services and Rehabilitation Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring/Summer 1988) Pages: 5-18
Date Published
1988
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Prison disciplinary violations by emotionally disturbed inmates pose delicate management problems when the violations are also symptoms of mental disorder.
Abstract
Results of a questionnaire survey of corrections officers and forensic mental health staff show remarkable convergence in 'pathology' ratings assigned to violations committed by prison mental health clients. The data also suggest that corrections officers and mental health staff concur about the need for mental health referrals implicit in the incidents, but occasionally diverge about the appropriateness of disciplinary sanctions. In general, the results confirm that symptoms of severe disturbance are reliably recognized, but suggest that lines may be drawn conservatively in assessing disruptive eccentricity which often reflects incipient or residual emotional problems. (Author abstract)