J Am Acad Psychiatry Law 34:3:283-291 (2006)
Copyright © 2006 by the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.
Diversion to the Mental Health System: Emergency Psychiatric Evaluations
Jeffrey S. Janofsky, MD and
Anthony C. Tamburello, MD
Dr. Janofsky is Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, The Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Dr. Janofsky is also Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Dr. Tamburello is Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Address correspondence to: Jeffrey S. Janofsky, MD, Meyer 4-181, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287. E-mail: jjanofsky{at}jhu.edu
In Maryland, any citizen may petition to have individuals brought against their will for an examination by a physician. In this retrospective chart review, we evaluated the characteristics of 300 persons referred to the Johns Hopkins Hospital on emergency petitions. Sixty-one percent of petitions described individuals who made verbal or physical threats of self-harm. Forty-seven percent of the petitions described individuals who could have been arrested based on dangerousness to others or property, but were instead diverted to the emergency room for psychiatric evaluation. Although not promoted as a jail diversion program, this process has the potential to direct mentally ill citizens appropriately from the criminal justice system into the mental health system. Greater involvement of mental health professionals at all stages, including police training and participation in crisis response teams in the community, may improve this process.
Copyright © 2006 by the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.
