Criminal vs. Civil Commitment of Psychotic Offenders: A Seven-Year Follow-Up

Evidence is presented to support the hypothesis that pretrial commitment in a criminal status of mentally ill persons charged with a crime is antitherapeutic compared to the alternative of civil commitment. A seven-year follow-up of 29 persons showed few subsequent criminal offenses by those discharged from civil commitment. The authors propose a more active role for psychiatrists in negotiating with the courts in behalf of patients committed in a criminal status as well as psychiatrist? involvement in other activities designed to modify antitherapeutic legal practices.