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Monitoring insanity acquittees: Connecticut's psychiatric security review board
D C Scott1, H V Zonana, M A Getz
1Forensic Services, Connecticut Department of Mental Health, Middletown.
Hospital & Community Psychiatry
|September 1, 1990
Summary
Connecticut
Area of Science:
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Mental Health Law
- Public Policy
Background:
- Established in 1985, Connecticut's psychiatric security review board (PSRB) manages individuals found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
- The PSRB has authority over confinement, temporary leave, conditional release, and termination of release for insanity acquittees.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the establishment and function of Connecticut's PSRB.
- To identify key issues and challenges in managing insanity acquittees under board jurisdiction.
Main Methods:
- Review of the establishment and mandate of the Connecticut PSRB.
- Analysis of data on 173 insanity acquittees under board jurisdiction between 1985 and 1989.
Main Results:
- Most insanity acquittees under board jurisdiction were hospitalized in state psychiatric facilities.
- The board's powers include hospital confinement, granting leave, and ordering conditional or terminated release.
Conclusions:
- Creating a PSRB involves balancing public safety with patient treatment needs.
- Challenges include clinician resistance, managing patients with unclear mental illness, and public perception issues.