The placement of long-term "criminally insane" patients in open settings

Twenty long-term psychiatric patients with criminal charges against them were transferred from the Iowa Security Medical Facility to open hospitals and aftercare settings between 1969 and 1971. Staff prepared the patients for transfer and persuaded authorities to permit the placements. Follow-up shows 19 have adapted to the new settings. The authors speculate that age is a factor in predicting aftercare adjustment; 18 of the 19 patients were at least 44 years old. The authors also feel that clinical staff must take the initiative to reduce the needless confinement of such patients.