A total sample of 96 cases were obtained from Brazil, Denmark, Egypt, Swaziland, Switzerland, and Thailand. Careful study of the court records and psychiatric reports revealed three situations which could trigger a request for such a report: an offense-oriented response where the offense itself is seen as indicative of mental morbidity; a patient-oriented response in which the patient's previous contact with the mental health system serves as trigger; and a behavior-oriented response in which the patient's disturbed behavior in detention or in court arouses concern. The majority of the individuals were first offenders (60 percent), while a similar proportion had had previous psychiatric treatment. Data tables and five references are given. (Author abstract modified)