Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Civil Committment

  • Chapter
Forensic Psychology

  • 350 Accesses

Summary

This chapter has attempted to provide an overview of the scientific and clinical bases for addressing the legal issues raised by civil commitment proceedings. Courts have laid out guidelines for fair procedures and judicial review of involuntary treatment, while recognizing the value of civil commitment. At the same time, fiscal issues and systems changes have made sustained inpatient treatment less available and exposed the mentally ill to the risks of arrest and homelessness. The availability and effectiveness of alternatives to inpatient treatment vary considerably across communities.

Progress has been made in better understanding the relationship between mental disorder and the risk to self or others. Assessment strategies for evaluating competency to make treatment decisions and for identifying mentally ill persons likely to require involuntary treatment continue to be developed. It is in this context that the forensic clinician applies the state of current knowledge to the problem of mentally ill individuals who do not choose to participate in treatment on their own.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Addington v. Texas, 441 U.S. 418, 99 S Ct. 1804 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  • American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 28, 127–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders — Fourth Edition. Washington, D.C.: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychological Association (1992). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 47, 1597–1611.

    Google Scholar 

  • Appelbaum, P.S. & Kemp, K.N. (1982). The evoluion of commitment law in the nineteenth century. Law and Human Behavior, 6, 343–354.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Appelbaum, P.S. (1996). Civil mental health law: Its history and its future. Mental and Physical Disability Law Reporter, 20(5), 599–604.

    Google Scholar 

  • Archives of General Psychiatry, 35, 837–844.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beck, A.T. & Steer, R.A. (1988). Beck Hopelessness Scale: Manual. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bongar, B. (1991). The suicidal patient: Clinical and legal standards of care. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bongar, B., Maris, R., Berman, A., Litman, R. & Silverman, M. (1998). Inpatient standards of care and the suicidal patient: Part I. General clinical formulations and legal considerations. In B. Bongar, A. Berman, R. Maris, M.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bongar, B., Goldberg, L., Cleary, K., & Brown, K. (2000). Marriage, family, family therapy and suicide. In R. Maris, A. Berman & M.M. Silverman (Eds.): Comprehensive textbook of suicidology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonta, J., Law, M. & Hanson, K. (1998). The prediction of criminal and violent recidivism among mentally disordered offenders: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 123, 123–142.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Borum, R., Swartz, M., Riley, S., Swanson, J., Hiday, V., & Wagner, R. (1999). Consumer perceptions of involuntary outpatient commitment. Psychiatric Services, 50, 1489–1491.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brakel, S.J., Parry, J. & Weiner, B. (1985). The mentally disabled and the law, 3rd ed. Chicago: American Bar Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Committee on Ethical Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists. (1991). Specialty guidelines for forensic psychologists. Law and Human Behavior, 15, 655–665.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cull, J.G. & Gill, W.S. (1982). Suicide Probability Scale: Manual. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Douglas, K., Ogloff, J., Nicholls, T. & Grant, I. (1999). Assessing risk for violence among psychiatric patients: The HCR-20 violence risk assessment scheme: Concurrent validity in a sample of incarcerated offenders. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 26, 3–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drake, R.E., & Burns, B.J. (1995). Special section on assertive community treatment: An introduction. Psychiatric Services, 46, 667–668.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Endicott, J. & Spitzer, R.L (1978). A diagnostic interview: The Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fasulo v. Arafeh, 173 Conn. 473, 378 A.2d. 553 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  • Foucha v. Louisiana, 112 S.Ct.1780 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerbasi, J. B., Bonnie, R. J., & Binder, R.L. (2000). Resource document on mandatory outpatient treatment. Journal of American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 28, 127–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibeaut, J. (2000). Who knows best? ABA Journal, 49–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grann, M., Belfrage, H., & Tengstrom, A. (2000). Actuarial assessment of risk for violence: Predictive validity of the VRAG and historical part of the HCR-20. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 27, 97–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grisso, T., & Appelbaum, P. (1998). Assessing competence to consent to treatment: A guide for physicians and other health professionals. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heilbrun, K. (1991). The Analysis of Aggressive Behavior. Richmond, VA: Medical College of Virginia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hiday, V., & Scheid-Cook, T. (1987). The North Carolina experience with outpatient commitment: A critical appraisal. International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 10, 215–232.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jones v. U.S., 463 U.S. 354, 103 S.Ct. 3043 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kansas v. Hendricks, 117 S Ct. 2073, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelitz, I. (1990). Empirical studies of involuntary outpatient civil commitment: Is it working? Mental and Physical Disability Law Reporter, 14, 368–379.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiesler, C.A. (1982). Public and professional myths about mental hospitalization. American Psychologist, 37, 1323–1339.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiesler, C.A., & Sibulkin, A. (1987). Mental hospitalization: Myths and facts about a national crisis. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiesler, C.A., & Simpkins, C.G. (1993). The unnoticed majority in psychiatric inpatient care. New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klassen, D., & O’Connor, W. (1989). Assessing the risk of violence in released mental patients: A cross-validation study. Psychological Assessment, 1, 75–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lake v. Cameron, 124 U.S. App. D.C. 264, 364 F2d. 657 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lessard v. Schmidt, 349 F.Supp. 1078 (E.D. Wis. 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lidz, C.W., Mulvey, E.P., & Gardner, W. (1993). The accuracy of predictions of violence to others. Journal of the American Medical Association, 269, 1007–1011.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Linehan, M. (2000). Behavioral treatments of suicidal behaviors: Definitional obfuscation and treatment outcomes. In R.W. Maris, S.S. Canetto, J.L McIntosh & M.M. Silverman (Eds): Review of suicidology, 2000. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linhorst, D. & Dirks-Linhorst, P.A. (1997). The impact of insanity acquittees on Missouri’s public mental health system. Law and Human Behavior, 21, 327–338.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Link, B.G., Andrews, H.A., & Cullen, F.T. (1992). The violent and illegal behavior of mental patients reconsidered. American Sociological Review, 57, 275–292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Link, B.G., & Stueve, C.A. (1994). Psychotic symptoms and the violent/illegal behavior of mental patients compared to community controls. In J. Monahan & H. Steadman (Eds.): Violence and mental disorder: Developments in risk assessment. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maris, R., Berman, A., & Silverman, M.M. (2000). Comprehensive textbook of suicidology. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McNeil, D. (1994). Hallucinations and violence. In Monahan, J. & Steadman, H.J. (Eds): Violence and mental disorder: Developments in risk assessment. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melton, G., Petrila, J., Poythress, N., & Slobogin, C. (1997). Psychological evaluations for the courts. 2nd edition. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monahan, J. (1981). The clinical prediction of violent behavior. National Institute of Mental Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Monahan, J. (1992). Mental disorder and violent behavior: Perceptions and evidence. American Psychologist, 47(4), 511–521.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Monahan, J. (1993). Limiting therapist exposure to Tarasoff liability: Guidelines for risk containment. American Psychologist, 48, 242–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor v. Donaldson, 422 U.S. 563 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohio Department of Mental Health (1994). Community care and inpatient treatment: Solutions for the next century. Columbus, OH.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parham v. JR and JL, 442 U.S. 584, 99 S.Ct. 2493 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  • Peruzzi, N. & Bongar, B. (1999). Assessing risk for completed suicide in patients with major depression: Psychologists’ views of critical factors. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 30, 576–580.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pokorny, A. (1983). Prediction of suicide in psychiatric patients: Report of a prospective study. Archives of General Psychiatry, 40, 249–257.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rennie v. Klein, 720 F.2d 266 (3rd Cir. 1983).

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, In Re, 481 A.2d 473 (D.C. 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  • Riggins v. Nevada, 112 S.Ct. 1810 (1992).

    Google Scholar 

  • Robins, L.N. & Regier, D.A. (1991). Psychiatric disorders in America — The Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study. New York: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers v. Commissioner, 390 Mass. 489, 458 N.E. 2d 308 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rothberg, J.M., & Geer-Williams, C. (1992). A comparison and review of suicide prediction scales. In R.W. Maris, A.L. Berman, J.T. Maltsberger, & R.I. Yufit (Eds.): Assessment and prediction of suicide. New York: The Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rouse v. Cameron, 125 U.S. App. D.C. 366, 373 F.2d 451 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Shneidman, E. S. (1987). A psychological approach to suicide. In G.R. VandenBos & B.K. Bryant (Eds.): Cataclysms, crises and catastrophes. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shuman, D. (1999). Psychiatric and psychological evidence. Second edition. West Group.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silver, E., Mulvey, E., & Monahan, J. (1999). Assessing violence risk among discharged psychiatric patients: Toward an ecological approach. Law and Human Behavior, 23, 237–255.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silverman, E. Harris & W. Packman: Risk management with suicidal patients. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stafford, K.P., & Karpawich, J.J. (1997). Conditional release: Court-ordered outpatient treatment for insanity acquittees. In M.R. Munetz (Ed.): Can mandatory treatment be therapeutic? San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steadman, H.J., Mulvey, E., Monahan, J., Robbins, P., Appelbaum, P., Grisso, T., Roth, L., & Silver, E. (1998). Violence by people discharged from acute psychiatric inpatient facilities and by others in the same neighborhoods. Archives of General Psychiatry, 55, 1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steadman, H.J., Silver, E., Monahan, J., Appelbaum, P., Robbins, P., Mulvey, E., Grisso, T., Roth, L., & Banks, S. (2000). A classification tree approach to the development of actuarial violence risk assessment tools. Law and Human Behavior, 24, 83–100.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stone, A. (1975). Mental health and the law: A system in transition. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swanson, J.W., Holzer, C.E., Ganju, V., & Jono, R. (1990). Violence and psychiatric disorder in the community: Evidence from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area Surveys. Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 41, 761–770.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Swanson, J.W., Borum, R., Swartz, M.S., Hiday, V.A., Wagner, H.R., & Burns, B.J. (2001). Can involuntary outpatient commitment reduce arrests among persons with severe mental illness? Criminal Justice and Behavior, 28, 156–189.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swartz, M.S., Swanson, J.W., Wagner, H.R., Burns, B.J., Hiday, V.A., & Borum, R. (1999). American Journal of Psychiatry, 156, 1968–1975.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Teplin, L.A. (1984). Criminalizing mental disorder: The comparative arrest rate of the mentally ill. American Psychologist, 39, 794–803.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Teplin, L.A. (1990). The prevalence of severe mental disorder among male urban jail detainees: Comparison with the Epidemiologic Catchment Area program. American Journal of Public Health, 80, 663–690.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Teplin, L.A. (1994). Psychiatric and substance abuse disorders among male jail detainees. American Journal of Public Health, 84, 290–293.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Teplin, L.A., Abram, K.M. & McClelland, G.M. (1996). Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among incarcerated women. Archives of General Psychiatry, 53, 505–512.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Torrey, E.F., & Kaplan, R.J. (1995). A national survey of the use of outpatient commitment. Psychiatric Services, 46, 778–784.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turkheimer, E., & Parry, C. (1992). Why the gap? Practice and policy in civil commitment hearings. American Psychologist, 47, 646–655.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Washington v. Harper, 494 U.S. 210, 110 S.Ct. 1028 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

  • Webster, C., Douglas, K., Eaves, D., & Hart, S. (1997). HCR-20: Assessing risk for violence (Version 2). Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada: Mental Health, Law and Policy Institute, Simon Fraser University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiederanders, M.R., & Choate, P.A. (1994) Beyond recidivism: Measuring community adjustment of conditionally released insanity acquittees. Psychological Assessment, 6, 61–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Winerip, M. (1999). Bedlam on the streets. The New York Times Magazine, May 23, 42–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyatt v. Stickney, 344 F.Supp. 387 (M.D. Ala. 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Youngberg v. Romeo, 457 U.S. 307, 102 S.Ct. 2452 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zinermon v. Burch, 494 U.S. 113, 110 S.Ct. 975 (1990).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psycho-Diagnostic Clinic, Akron, OH

    Kathleen Powers Stafford Ph.D., ABPP

Authors
  1. Kathleen Powers Stafford Ph.D., ABPP
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Aurora, Colorado

    Brent Van Dorsten

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Stafford, K.P. (2002). Civil Committment. In: Van Dorsten, B. (eds) Forensic Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47923-0_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-47923-0_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-306-47270-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-306-47923-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation