RECENT TRENDS IN THE OHIO FORENSIC SYSTEM HAVE INVOLVED A SHIFT FROM PROVIDING INPATIENT EVALUATION AND TREATMENT AT THE LIMA STATE HOSPITAL (LSH) TO THE PROVISION OF SUCH SERVICES THROUGH COMMUNITY FORENSIC CENTERS ON AN OUTPATIENT BASIS. THE PRIMARY RESULT HAS BEEN A DECREASE IN THE POPULATION AT LSH. THE COMMUNITY FORENSIC CENTERS HAVE DEVELOPED, HOWEVER, AS DIFFERENT TYPES AND MODELS, WITH VARIOUS LEVELS OF STAFFING AND MOST CONTRACTING FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, DIFFERENT LEVELS OF EXPERTISE, AND DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIVE AND LIAISON SKILLS. SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES ALSO DEVELOPED IN THE TYPES OF SERVICES PROVIDED, FROM PURELY EVALUATIVE TO TREATMENT, EMERGENCY INTERVENTION, AND CONSULTATION AND EDUCATION. CURRENT STATUTES DEALING WITH DISPOSITION OF THOSE FOUND NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY, OR INCOMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL, AND PENAL TRANSFERS HAVE CONCENTRATED ON DIRECT JUDICIAL COMMITMENT POWERS, WITH PLENARY REVIEW AUTHORITY VESTED IN THE SAME COMMITTING JUDGES. THE NEW HOUSE BILL 565 PASSED IN 1978 IS PREMISED ON THE CONCEPT THAT INDIVIDUALS SHOULD NOT ENTER THE MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM UNLESS THEY MEET THE STRINGENT REQUIREMENTS OF CIVIL COMMITMENT CRITERIA. EVALUATIONS BY CERTIFIED FORENSIC CENTERS OR BY PRIVATE PSYCHOLOGISTS OR PSYCHIATRISTS WILL PROVIDE DATA TO THE COURT TO MAKE DETERMINATIONS AS TO INSANITY AT THE TIME OF OFFENSE OR INCOMPETENCY TO STAND TRIAL. STRICT TIME LIMITS FOR EVALUATION ARE REQUIRED, AS WELL AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUTPATIENT EVALUATION BY PRIVATE PROFESSIONALS. THREE FACILITIES TO SERVE AS ALTERNATIVES TO LSH ARE PLANNED, ALONG WITH A FACILITY RESERVED FOR SENTENCED PRISONERS TRANSFERRED FROM CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES. MUCH HAS YET TO BE DONE IN THE AREA OF THE FORENSIC OUTPATIENT CENTERS. THERE IS A NEED TO COORDINATE THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THESE CENTERS. THE DIVISION OF FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY IS PLANNING A SERIES OF SEMINARS FEATURING VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS. IT IS HOPED THIS WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF A DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE COORDINATED SYSTEM FOR DEALING WITH MENTALLY-ILL OFFENDERS. (RCB)