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

Police Referral to Psychiatric Emergency Services and Its Effect on Disposition Decisions

NCJ Number
151483
Journal
Hospital and Community Psychiatry Volume: 44 Issue: 11 Dated: (November 1993) Pages: 1085-1090
Author(s)
M A Watson; S P Segal; C E Newhill
Date Published
1993
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The influence of police referrals on psychiatric hospital admission decisions was examined using data from 772 cases in 9 emergency services in California from 1981 to 1986.
Abstract
Research clinicians observed staff evaluations of these cases and rated patients' symptom severity, danger to self or others, and grave disability. They also reviewed the criminal justice records of these patients both before and for 18 months after the evaluation. A total of 186 patients referred by police were compared with 577 patients not referred by police. Results revealed that the individuals brought by the police were more likely to be subsequently hospitalized, but they were also more psychiatrically disturbed. They were more dangerous to others and were more gravely disabled. However, they were no more likely to have a criminal record than patients who were not referred by police. Findings indicated that police did not have undue influence on dispositions, and the patients they brought to hospitals were not more criminal than others. Tables and 22 references (Author abstract modified)