Criminally Committed Mental Patient Services: A Task Force Report

Until 1980, criminal defendants found incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity were committed under contract, at the discretion of the Alaska Division of Mental Health, to Atascadero State Hospital in California, a facility suitable to longer-term care of persons needing a secure setting. Changes in California state policy foreclosed this option. The most likely facility in Alaska that could accommodate this class of patients was Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API) in Anchorage; however, introduction of a few new patients with special security needs would have impacts on existing programs of the Institute. This report presents recommendations of the Task Force on Criminally Committed Mental Patient Services for placement and treatment of criminal committed mental patients at Alaska Psychiatric Institute.Alaska Division of Mental Health and Developmental DisabilitiesI. Membership [Task Force on Criminally Committed Mental Patient Services] / II. Problem Setting / III. Recommendations / IV. Justification: A. Evaluation and Observation; B. The Long-Term Title 12 Patient; C. Forensic Services in the Correctional Setting; D. Review of Legal Services/Statutes / APPENDICES / A. Consultation Report — Raymond Leidig, M. D. / B. Agency Responses: Division of Corrections; Division of Social Services; Department of Public Safety; Department of Law / C. Tables / D. Alaska Mental Status Statute