A plea for the establishment of psychiatric forensic units in Israel

The growing interaction between psychiatric and legal systems justifies the establishment of specialized services. From a theoretical viewpoint, the obligation of judges to apply a dichotomic categorization between 'mentally ill' offenders and the rest--encompassing a wide spectrum of normal people as well as those suffering from severe personality disorders--contradicts the psychiatrist's conception of continuum in pathology and liability. In practice, the criterion of accountability determines whether an offender will be punished or treated in a mental institution. Mentally disturbed but non-psychotic offenders cannot benefit from advances in psychiatric techniques. This article details suggestions for change: The decision about mentally disturbed offenders should be based on two criteria--liability and chance of improvement through treatment. The judicial decision may then integrate punishment and treatment. The establishment of psychiatric forensic units would significantly add to the present range of services handling mentally disturbed offenders, would end the dispersion of the professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists, criminologists, social workers, probation officers) involved in the management of such offenders, and could provide an academic base and a framework for training residents.