TREATMENT OF MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS IN A STATE HOSPITAL FORENSIC UNIT (FROM THE ROLE OF THE FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST, 1980 BY GERALD COOKE - SEE NCJ-67157)

• NCJ Number: 67168
• Author(s): G COOKE
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS IN A STATE HOSPITAL'S FORENSIC UNIT ARE DESCRIBED BY A PSYCHOLOGIST, BASED ON HIS PERCEPTIONS OF AN IDEAL TREATMENT PROGRAM.

Abstract

THIS STUDY RECOMMENDS SPECIFIC FORMS OF TREATMENT FOR MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS ADMITTED TO A STATE HOSPITAL'S FORENSIC UNIT: MEDICATION; MILIEU THERAPY; GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL THERAPY; OCCUPATIONAL, MUSIC, AND RECREATION THERAPY; AND ACADEMIC AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAMS. GROUP THERAPY IS JUDGED TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, AND RECREATIONAL THERAPY IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO HELP PATIENTS USE THEIR TIME MORE CONSTRUCTIVELY. THE USE OF VOLUNTEER WORKERS IN PARAPROFESSIONAL THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH PATIENTS IS ALSO SUGGESTED. FOR TREATMENT TO BE EFFECTIVE, IT MUST BE GIVEN IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL'S WORTH AS A HUMAN BEING, REGARDLESS OF PREVIOUS MENTAL CONDITION OR PAST HISTORY OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. IDEAL TREATMENT IS SELDOM REACHED, AND IS OFTEN CONSCIOUSLY OR UNCONSCIOUSLY SABOTAGED BY THOSE WHO LACK THIS FUNDAMENTAL RESPECT. AS A RESULT, THE PATIENT'S PERCEPTION OF THE TREATMENT OFFERED IS FREQUENTLY FAR DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF THE STAFF. NO REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (LGR)