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Review of the Mental Health Act, 1959

Report of the Working Party of the Public Policy Committee, (continued.)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 July 2025

Extract

(i) The powers available to the Courts for the disposal of offenders requiring psychiatric treatment should be flexible, offering the widest range of options. To this end, the facts having been established, the Courts should have the power to impose a ‘Court Treatment Order’ which would allow a possibility of treatment in a variety of settings according to need. With suitable upgrading of facilities (referred to later) a Court Treatment Order would allow treatment of a disturbed offender in designated prison hospitals (if a high degree of security was required), in hospital, Special Hospital, medium-secure or special treatment unit, and with supervision and after-care mandatory on release. This implies the power to impose a period of care for a fixed period or for an unlimited period of time. The existing parole system and appeals system could operate appropriately.

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Type
The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 1974

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