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An examination of stakeholder attitudes and understanding of therapeutic jurisprudence in a mental health court.

Version 2 2024-06-13, 15:59
Version 1 2016-05-11, 14:31
journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-13, 15:59 authored by L Lim, A Day
Mental health courts represent a key component of contemporary responses to mental illness and disability in the criminal justice system, and yet there is uncertainty about how these courts should balance their punishment and treatment roles. This paper reports an analysis of interviews with court professionals which considers their understanding of the rationale underpinning an Australian mental health court, its effectiveness in achieving its criminal justice and clinical goals, and of broader notions of therapeutic jurisprudence. This reveals considerable support for diversionary mental health court programs of this type and professional confidence that this type of program is effective. However, the analysis also highlights conflict in the practice frameworks of the different professional groups who regularly contribute to the operations of the court. Suggestions to enhance service delivery are offered.

History

Journal

International journal of law and psychiatry

Volume

46

Pagination

27-34

Location

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

eISSN

1873-6386

Language

eng

Publication classification

C Journal article, C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2016, Elsevier

Issue

May - June

Publisher

Elsevier