Abstract
The study examines the question of appropriate placement of forensic psychiatric patients, by comparing population characteristics of a penal institution, a general psychiatric hospital, and a maximum security forensic psychiatric facility. Results suggest that forensic patients resemble general psychiatric patients more closely than they resemble prisoners. In demographic areas the patient groups are quite similar and quite different from the prisoner group. The results of psychological testing are equivocal, but support the impression patient groups differ from prisoners. The study suggests courts are reasonably successful in identifying those offenders placed in mental health institutions rather than in a criminal justice setting.
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