200706
Use of Jails to Hold Persons without Criminal Charges Who Are Awaiting Civil Psychiatric Hospital Beds
POSITION STATEMENTS
Approved by the Board of Trustees, July 2007
Approved by the Assembly of District Branches, May 2007
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"Policy documents are approved by the APA Assembly and Board of Trustees… These are …position statements that define APA official policy on specific subjects…" APA Operations Manual |
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Access to appropriate levels of care is essential for persons with mental illness. Where no criminal conduct has been alleged, persons determined to be in need of civil psychiatric commitment for treatment of acute psychiatric symptoms should not be held in jails or other correctional facilities.
The APA encourages psychiatrists to continue to work with local, state, and federal agencies to provide adequate mental health services for civil committees.