Forensic Psychiatry in California, Palo Alto

Psychiatry as a whole, and any of its sections examines patterns of emergence, development and possible outcome of mental illness (mental illness). Forensic psychiatry can only deal with the mental illness, the presence of which in the criminal and civil process entails certain legal consequences (exemption from criminal responsibility, guardianship), which include mental disorders, exclude or limit the responsibility, civil capacity, the ability to testify and etc.

These disorders are characterized by two groups of characters:

1.  Qualification of the first of these is the general psychiatry, ie the total for all sections of psychiatry (eg, the establishment of a medical diagnosis - schizophrenia. epilepsy, neurosis).
2. Qualification of the second group of signs is called a forensic psychiatric assessment.This group is often is formulated in the text of the law and is named the legal criterion (legal criterion of insanity,diminished responsibility, Incapacity).

 Regulations provide for a definition of diminished responsibility legal criteria for deciding whether you can use the effect of mental illness on the ability to understand and evaluate the nature of the crime, to declare the offender "is not subject to criminal liability as a result of mental illness", "Not guilty based on his of diminished responsibility" or other wording. Petition about the ad a person "a dangerous criminal", as a rule, require the involvement of highly experienced forensic experts, who must provide the court the specific and scientific information to determine the degree of risk and the likelihood of manifestations of violence in the future.

 After the conviction offender the main task of the forensic psychiatrists  lies in the fact to determine the level of relationship between the various institutions designed to the detention and treatment. Hospitals for the Insane in respect of the crime, psychiatric hospitals for patients subject to civil liability, the prison hospital for mentally ill prisoners and hospital wards in local jails - all part of the mental health system

Models of mental health care to offenders with mental disorders

-          Outpatient treatment in prison

Mentally ill remain in regular prison cells with other prisoners and attend the prison hospital for a course of psychiatric treatment.

-          Special Branch in the prison building

Mental patients is transferred in this department at the time of exacerbation illness or for the entire period of detention.

-          Treatment by arrangement with external mental health agencies

Mental patients is transferred to external hospitals or psychiatric units at the time of acute illness.

-          Forensic social remedial measures

 Every effort is made to prevent ingress the mentally ill in the prison system or the return to it after release.