Mentally Ill persons who commit crimes: punishment or treatment

In many countries, there continue to be conflicting opinions and mechanisms regarding the appropriateness of treatment and/or punishment for mentally ill individuals who commit crimes. The general population is concerned with public safety and often finds it difficult to accept the possibility that a mentally ill individual who commits a crime can be hospitalized and eventually discharged, sometimes after a relatively short time. In most countries the options of incarceration and hospitalization are available in concert. In some, incarceration occurs before hospitalization. In others, hospitalization is first, followed by a prison term. An additional option could be “treatment years. ” The court would determine the number of years of treatment required, according to the crime. This dilemma has no unequivocal solution. The goal is to reach a balance between the right of the patient to treatment and the responsibility of the courts to ensure public safety. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law 38:100–3, 2010 Should mentally ill individuals who commit crimes be referred to psychiatric treatment or should they be punished? In recent years, there has been increased awareness of patients ’ rights, integration of mentally ill individuals into the community, reduction of du