U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

Comment: Community Forensic Services and Today's Criminal Justice System

NCJ Number
116834
Journal
Criminal Law Bulletin Volume: 25 Issue: 2 Dated: (March-April 1989) Pages: 176-181
Author(s)
H J Steadman
Date Published
1989
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article focuses on a community forensic service in Florida.
Abstract
The Palm Beach County (Florida) Forensic Mental Health Services (FMHS) program is designed to be a comprehensive, county-based service system for all persons receiving mental health services while involved in the criminal justice system and for those on conditional release status after inpatient care is completed. The general program goals are drawn from 'Guidelines for Community Forensic Mental Health Programs,' developed by the Office of State Mental Health Programs of The Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (HRS). Some specific program components are screening, pretrial evaluation, presentence investigation, treatment services, and case management services. FMHS provides services to the jail, the community, and several State institutions. These services end when the person is released to the community. Ideally, a successfully resolved case will result in a forensic client's involvement in the same service delivery system that anyone else in the community would use.