Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.W.)--University of Hong Kong, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-115).

This dissertation study focused upon four stages in the forensic evaluation process, including its impact upon judicial decisions. A group of defendants referred for a pretrial forensic evaluation between October, 1974 and October, 1976 was compared with defendants not referred for evaluation. The results indicated that (1) the defendants referred for forensic evaluation were very similar to those defendants not referred for pretrial examination except that the diverted population was more frequently in custody, remained in custody for a longer time, and remained in the criminal justice system awaiting disposition for a longer time. (2) Factors associated with a recommendation of incompetency and/or insanity included the diagnosis, a poor prognosis, a previous competency evaluation, and past history of hospitalization. (3) Generally forensic competency recommendations were followed by the courts; however, judges were more willing to overrule experts' recommendations of incompetence than competence. When experts agreed the defendent was sane at the pretrial the court followed the recommendation; 1 defendant out of 95 was found insane. When the experts' agreed the defendant was insane at the pretrial evaluation, the defendant was found insane at time of adjudication only 13.5%, though in over 40% of the cases the charges against the defendant were dismissed; still, in nearly half the cases the defendant was found guilty of the crime. (4) The defendants referred and considered competent by the experts were later found guilty and sentenced to prison time more often than defendants who either were not evaluated or considered incompetent by the experts. These diverted but competent defendants received credit less often for time served while in custody than the nonevaluated defendants. Defendants who were considered incompetent by the experts were later less often found guilty, and seldomly sentenced to prison. For these defendants there was a greater likelihood that the criminal charges would be dismissed. However, these defendants were subsequently committed to a mental hospital, and therefore did not "beat their raps." Finally, the greatest likelihood for a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict occurred when previously the experts disagreed as to the competence of the defendant to stand trial.

No description available.

The aim of this study was to document the safeguards inherent in the Mental Health Act (MHA) of 1973, and to examine the extent " to which these are observed in practice. The research was conducted at Lentegeur Hospital in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town. The population consisted of 726 certified patients who were admitted involuntarily (i.e. under sections 9 and 12 of the MHA) from 01 January 1990 to 31 December 1990. Data for each of these patients was collected from the admission register, clinical files, administrative files, and the certified post book. In addition, the official hospital statistics were examined. Measurements obtained included demographic data, the validity of the document contents, the validity of the certification process, and an overall measure of the validity of each of t he certifications taking into account both document contents and observance of the time strictures set out in the MHA. Twenty nine patients (4,0%) were admitted by Urgency (Section 12), and 697 (96,0%) on Reception Order (Section 9). The study focused mainly on the Section 9 patients, because of the small sample size for Urgency admissions. It was found that 609 (87,4%) of the 697 admissions were legally flawed in terms of document contents criteria and the time limits in the certification process. Document content criteria were not fulfilled in: 3,0% of the Applications for Reception Order; 32,1% of Medical Certificates; 20,1% of Reception Orders; and 3,6% of Reports to the Attorney-General. In 40,0% of certifications the Report to the Attorney-General (G2/28) could not be traced. Examination of temporal safeguards revealed that the least satisfactory aspect was the delay in the completion of the post-admission Report to the Attorney-General. It was found that 32,3% of these Reports were not submitted on time. Reasons for the discrepancy ("gap") between legal standards and actual practice are discussed. Recommendations are made which could help minimise or eradicate this "gap". These include suggestions for changes in the document format, for the use of a certification booklet, for stricter control of late and inadequate documentation, and for inservice training of all those involved in the certification process. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1993.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Tulsa, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-78).

Thesis (M.P.A.)--Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, 1993. / Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, page: 2937. Abstract precedes thesis title page as [2] preliminary leaves. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 59-61).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Murdoch University, 2007. / Thesis submitted to the Division of Health Sciences. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 210-228)

Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992.

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1992. / Also available in print.