Abstract
Forensic Psychiatry has been criticized for losing pace with more general psychiatric trends toward community mental health. Traditionally, forensic programs have been located in the overly restrictive, anti-therapeutic environments of the jails, or have remained inaccessible in large, far away psychiatric hospitals. This article examines the general hospital forensic unit as a new approach to the delivery of forensic psychiatric services. The authors examine the viability of general hospitalforensic units in light of one such program-The Calgary General Hospital Forensic Unit, Calgary, Alberta. Service utilization patterns and logistical issues of security and patient's rights are discussed. General hospital forensic units are portrayed as firmly rooted in the Community Mental Health Philosophy and a viable alternative to traditionalforensic psychiatric delivery systems.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.