APPARENTLY SUFFERING FROM MENTAL DISORDER - AN EXAMINATION OF THE EXERCISE OF POLICE POWER UNDER SECTION 10 OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ACT OF ONTARIO

• NCJ Number: 13307
• Author(s): R G FOX; P G ERICKSON; L M SALUTIN
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 191 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Toronto
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: Canada

Annotation

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MENTALLY DISTURBED PERSON, THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS APPREHENSION, THE REFERRAL PROCESS, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLICE AND HOSPITAL STAFF.

Abstract

THIS RESEARCH IS CONCERNED WITH AN EXAMINATION OF POLICE INVOLVEMENT WITH MENTALLY ILL PERSONS BY REFERENCE TO ONE OF THE DISPOSITIONAL ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE, NAMELY, CONVEYANCE TO A PSYCHIATRIC FACILITY FOR EXAMINATION UNDER SECTION 10 OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ACT OF ONTARIO. THE EXPERIENCES OF THE POLICE AND THE MAJOR PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS SERVING METROPOLITAN TORONTO INDICATE THAT THE POLICE AND THE HOSPITALS MAINTAIN A SATISFACTORY WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH REGARD TO POLICE REFERRALS, ALTHOUGH THERE IS EVIDENCE, ESPECIALLY IN RELATION TO MATTERS AFFECTING SECURITY, OF AN UNDERLYING CONFLICT BETWEEN THE PEACE-KEEPING FUNCTIONS OF THE POLICE AND THE THERAPEUTIC GOALS OF THE HOSPITAL. THE POLICE APPEAR TO BE COMPETENT IN THEIR SCREENING OF THE CASES THEY BRING TO HOSPITAL FOR EXAMINATION AND IN THEIR HANDLING OF THEM. HOWEVER, THEY EXPRESS DISSATISFACTION WITH SOME ASPECTS OF THE ADMITTING PROCESS AND THE DIFFUSE NATURE OF THESE COMPLAINTS SUGGESTS THAT, PERHAPS, THEY REPRESENT UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE LEGITIMACY OF THE POLICE ROLE IN THIS AREA. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)