PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS - CANADA

• NCJ Number: 64991
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 50 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Canada
• Note: THE PAPERS WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN PUBLISHED ARE REPRODUCED IN LIEU OF REPRINTS ONLY FOR THE USE OF THE GUESTS AT THE 'JOURNEES INTERNATIONALES DE CRIMINOLOGIE COMPAREE', JOINTLY SPONSORED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR COMPARATIVE CRIMINOLOGY AND THE INSTITUT PHILIPPE PINEL HELD IN MONTREAL, CANADA, APRIL 24-25, 1972

Annotation

THIS CANADIAN REPORT DISCUSSES THE NATURE OF PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS.

Abstract

A HISTORICAL REVIEW OF PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES FOR INMATES CONCLUDES THAT FULL PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS OF MAJOR PENAL INSTITUTIONS, SINCE THE SPECIAL PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS FOR MENTALLY-ILL OFFENDERS HAVE FAILED. FACILITIES FOR FULL HOSPITALIZATION, DAY AND NIGHT HOSPITAL, AND AN OUTPATIENT CLINIC ARE ADVISED FOR EACH MAJOR PENAL INSTITUTION. ANOTHER PAPER REPORTS ON A DETAILED SURVEY OF INMATES HOSPITALIZED FOR MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL PENITENTIARY, WHICH SERVES ALL THE FEDERAL PENAL INSTITUTIONS IN QUEBEC. IN COMPARING THE SCHIZOPHRENIC AND NEUROTIC PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED, THEY WERE FOUND NOT TO DIFFER IN AGE DISTRIBUTION, FAMILY BACKGROUND, EDUCATION, MARITAL STATUS, CRIMINOLOGICAL TYPE, AND CRIME PATTERN. THE BACKGROUNDS OF PATIENTS IN BOTH OF THESE GROUPS WERE FOUND TO BE UNUSUALLY UNFAVORABLE AND PATHOGENIC. FINDINGS ARE ALSO SUMMARIZED FROM A REVIEW OF ALL PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED DURING A 1-YEAR PERIOD IN THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL PENITENTIARY. THE THREE MAIN DIAGNOSTIC GROUPS--SCHIZOPHRENICS, NEUROTICS, AND THOSE WITH PERSONALITY DISORDERS--ALL HAD BACKGROUNDS THAT WERE UNUSUALLY PATHOGENIC. THE PREVALENCE OF SEVERE MENTAL ILLNESS AMONG THE 137 OFFENDERS TREATED IS VIEWED AS A JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PRESENCE OF FULL PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES IN A PRISON. ANOTHER STUDY EXAMINES PERSISTENT CRIMINALITY AND PSYCHOSIS AND CONCLUDES THAT YEARS OF DELINQUENCY AND CRIMINALITY PRECEDE THE APPEARANCE OF PSYCHOSIS. CRIMINALITY, HOWEVER, DECREASES WITH THE AGE OF THE OFFENDER, EVEN THOUGH THE PSYCHOSIS CONTINUES. THIS PATTERN ARGUES FOR TEMPORARY MAXIMUM SECURITY DURING THE PERIOD OF DANGEROUS ACTING-OUT, WITH SECURITY DECREASING WITH THE LEVEL OF DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR. A FINAL PRESENTATION DESCRIBES A PSYCHIATRIC CENTER FOR MENTALLY SUBNORMAL DELINQUENTS IN GENEVA, SWITZERLAND. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)