A Computer-Supported Information System for Forensic Services

Recently many state departments of mental health have decentralized their forensic services programs. This trend has increased administrative needs for accurate, easily accessible inform, ation on theforensic services' caseload. The Missouri Department ofMentalHealtb and the Missouri Institute of Psychiatry have developed and implemented a computer-supported system that provides data on the number of cases referred by criminal courts, the questions asked by the courts, the clinicalanswers to those questions, and demographic information about the evaluated population. The system is a part of the department's other computer systems so that forensic clients may be tracked through various mental health facilities. Mental health administrators may use the system to monitor department policies, ensure appropriate aiocation of resources, and improve the quality offorensic reports.