The Outcome of Forensic Psychiatric Assessment

Abstract

This article summarizes data collected from 248 pretrial cases assessed by forensic psychiatrists for the criminal courts in six Canadian cities during July 1978. The discussion focuses upon purposes for court referrals, statutes employed for psychiatric remands, characteristics of forensic patients, diagnoses and recommendations rendered by clinicians, and the relationship between psychiatric recommendation and judicial outcome. It is suggested that legal and policy analysis of the court-ordered forensic assessment to date is lacking in detail and comprehensiveness, and that research needs to be directed more toward the decision-making and referral practices of the courts.