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MENTAL HEALTH - JAILS AND PRISONS (FROM NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MEDICAL CARE AND HEALTH SERVICES IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS - SECOND, PROCEEDINGS, 1978 SEE NCJ-58532)

NCJ Number
58534
Author(s)
P G NELSON
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
CURRENT PROGRESS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP MINIMUM STANDARDS OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR PRISONS AND JAILS IS REPORTED.
Abstract
RECOGNIZING THAT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IS AN INMATE RIGHT UNDER THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ESTABLISHED A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR JAILS AND PRISONS. AS OF THIS WRITING, THE TASK FORCE HAS MET ONLY ONCE. THE TASK FORCE HAS DETERMINED THAT THE TERM 'PSYCHIATRIC CARE' SHOULD BE USED INSTEAD OF 'MENTAL HEALTH' SERVICES, BECAUSE OF THE BROAD AND FLEXIBLE USE OF THE TERM 'MENTAL HEALTH.' IN TASK FORCE DELIBERATIONS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT PSYCHIATRICALLY ILL INMATES ARE THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM A PSYCHOSIS OR A NEUROSIS. SOCIOPATHIC PERSONALITIES ARE NOT CONSIDERED TARGETS FOR JAIL OR PRISON PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES, EXCEPT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF THEIR PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEMS. TREATMENT OF THE VERY DISTURBED PATIENT IS NOT VIEWED AS A REALISTIC EXPECTATION FOR PRISON PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES. THE STANDARDS PROVIDE FOR CONTINUITY OF CARE AFTER DEPARTURE FROM THE PRISON SYSTEM. THIS WOULD MEAN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CLOSE WORKING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THE DIVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. WHILE CONFIDENTIALITY OF AN INMATE'S PSYCHIATRIC RECORDS ARE A CONCERN OF THE STANDARDS, THE INFORMATION CAN BE RELEASED WITHOUT THE INMATE'S WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION SHOULD SUCH DISCLOSURE BE DEEMED NECESSARY TO PROTECT AGAINST CLEAR AND SUBSTANTIAL RISKS OF IMMINENT SERIOUS INJURY, DISEASE, OR DEATH BEING INFLICTED BY THE INMATE ON HIMSELF OR OTHERS, OR SHOULD HE BE CONSIDERED A THREAT TO THE SECURITY OF THE UNIT. (RCB)