Abstract
Mean length of hospitalization by type of offense for 816 male patients adjudicated as unfit to stand trial and discharged from a forensic psychiatric hospital between 1975 and 1979 was compared with the seriousness of the alleged offense. Seriousness of the alleged offense was defined by length of possible maximum sentence if convicted. There was a positive correlation between length of hospitalization and seriousness of the alleged offense. This correlation was greatly increased when those found unfit to stand trial on misdemeanor charges were excluded. Implications for such a finding are discussed.
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