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A Model Program for the Treatment of Mentally Ill Offenders in the Community

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Abstract

There is a new and growing interest amongcommunity mental health providers and administrators inthe area of correctional psychiatry. From a column inPsychiatric Times to committees and task forces in APA and the American Academy of Psychiatry andthe Law, increased attention is being paid to the greatneed for the treatment of mentally ill offenders. Inthis article, we will introduce the reader to the magnitude of the correctional system and tothe prevalence of mental illness in the correctionalpopulation. We will then describe several model programsdesigned to work with mentally disordered offenders, and outline a novel collaborative approachbetween a CMHC and a Probation Office designed to helpmentally disordered offenders succeed in communitytreatment. Several barriers to treatment faced by this population will be identified, including doublestigma, lack of family/social support, comorbidity,adjustment problems, and boundary issues. Case vignettesdesigned to illustrate key points will beincluded.

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Roskes, E., Feldman, R., Arrington, S. et al. A Model Program for the Treatment of Mentally Ill Offenders in the Community. Community Ment Health J 35, 461–472 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018790613585

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018790613585

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