THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SIMILAR UNITS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THROUGHOUT FLORIDA WOULD ALLEVIATE THE NEED TO CONTINUALLY EXPAND STATE HOSPITAL BEDS FOR FORENSIC PATIENTS AND WOULD ENHANCE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AVAILABLE TO FORENSIC CLIENTS. POLK COUNTY IS A SEMI-RURAL AREA OF 250,000 PEOPLE, LOCATED IN THE CENTRAL PART OF THE STATE. ITS FORENSIC UNIT CONSISTS OF A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, A SOCIAL WORKER, TWO COUNSELORS, A LIAISON COORDINATOR, AND AN ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY. THE PROGRAM WAS STARTED WITH A 1975 LEAA GRANT AND COSTS ROUGHLY $100,000 A YEAR. THE APPOINTMENT OF A LIAISON OFFICER, FAMILIAR WITH THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, HAS FACILITATED THE TYPE OF CLOSE RELATIONSHIP NEEDED BETWEEN THE SYSTEM AND THE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER. ONE OF THE MAJOR FUNCTIONS OF THIS UNIT HAS BEEN TO DETERMINE COMPETENCY TO STAND TRIAL. THE ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL. THE UNIT ALSO MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COURT CONCERNING APPROPRIATE TREATMENT PLANS. IN ADDITION, THE UNIT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING TREATMENT TO INMATES. ALSO THE UNIT MAKES POLICE, COURT PERSONNEL, AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICIALS AWARE OF THE CORRELATION BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND CRIME. THE FOLLOWING TOOLS DEVELOPED BY THE UNIT ARE APPENDED: THE LEGAL PROCESS PARTICIPATION INTERVIEW, JAIL OR STOCKADE REFERRAL FORM, BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS OF POTENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, AND A BEHAVIORAL CHECKLIST. NO REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.