title: Psychiatric support to magistrates' courts.
abstract: There are many problems associated with magistrates' courts obtaining psychiatric advice when faced with defendants with mental health problems. Often the disposal of such individuals is less than ideal because of the unavailability of expert advice. In order to overcome these difficulties in Hampshire, a protocol has been developed to guide the court towards other sources of expert psychiatric advice as an alternative to the traditional route of using a consultant psychiatrist. By using existing court diversion schemes, prison mental health teams and care co-ordinators in community mental health teams, it is hoped that this will result in a more timely and reliable flow of psychiatric information. Not only will this provide an improved service to the courts but the mentally disordered defendant should benefit from a better informed bench when they are considering his/her disposal.
authors.affiliation: Forensic Project Team, The Wessex Consortium, Highcroft, Romsey Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO22 5DH.
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vaughan
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Austen
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Le Feuvre
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Grady
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Swyer
mesh_terms: D005104:Expert Testimony / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D033222:Judicial Role; D001523:Mental Disorders; D006113:United Kingdom