The Medical Recommendation for Psychiatric Remands into Prison—The Hong Kong Scene

Abstract

A review is presented of all the remand cases who were referred from the courts to the psychiatric staff of the Psychiatric Observation Unit in the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre, Prisons Department, Hong Kong Government. Altogether 607 defendants were assessed during the 24-month period and reports were furnished which indicated the psychiatric diagnosis, medical recommendation and fitness to plead of each case.

It is noted that over half of the remands were not mentally disordered and a psychiatric diagnosis was possible in less than half of the sample. Most of the cases belonged to the younger age group, namely 19–39, which is compatible with the finding of schizophrenia in the majority of the mentally ill remands. A considerable number of them had a history of previous psychiatric contact. The nature of the offences varied and they involved those against the person, the property and the public order. In comparison, the schizophrenics committing offences against the person of a non-sexual nature formed the largest sub-group. On the whole, the schizophrenics were most frequently remanded for psychiatric examination, most likely to be recommended for a medical disposal and almost certainly allowed to benefit from the treatment proposed. Factors associated with positive or negative as well as accepted or rejected recommendation were discussed. Special consideration was given to some of the problems concerning the treatment orders which are peculiar to Hong Kong.