Mental Hospital Accused of Improper Institutionalization Procedures

This case involves a middle aged man with a history of mental illness who has been hospitalized at an inpatient psychiatric facility for several years. He had originally been convicted of assault during an altercation with a motel clerk, after which he was admitted to the mental hospital. Since then, his hospitalization has been renewed on a yearly basis in accordance with state law, but the patient and his family were concerned that this process was being allowed to go on without proper review, as the patient’s condition had improved substantially since he was initially committed.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. How often do you see forensic psychiatry patients?

Expert Witness Response E-048805

I personally perform multiple forensic evaluations per month. As a clinical professor, I provide didactics and supervision to trainees on competence to stand trial, not guilty by reason of insanity, mentally disordered offenders, Murphy Conservatorships and violence risk evaluations. I have reviewed multiple similar cases to this one. I perform evaluations to determine if individuals meet the criteria to be on a Murphy Conservatorship (incompetent to stand trial, mentally ill and dangerous) for two counties in California. If the person is found to meet the criteria they are usually placed in locked facilities. These can be renewed indefinitely on an annual basis. I have also performed evaluations of individuals committed to state mental hospitals after being adjudicated not guilty by reason of insanity or mentally disordered offenders.