title: An audit of urgent referrals by the Procurator Fiscal to the Tayside Forensic Psychiatric Service.
abstract: This study describes the demographic, offence and diagnostic characteristics of subjects referred by the Procurators Fiscal operating from three courts in Tayside, Scotland. A comparison is made of referrals made between 1988 to 1995 and 1997 to 1998. There was an increased rate of referral on an urgent basis over time, primarily involving patients already in contact with the psychiatric services, 37% of whom were detained and admitted to hospital. This urgent assessment ensured that mentally-disordered offenders were not remanded in custody simply for the preparation of a report, and it allowed an early assessment to be made regarding the suitability for diversion from prosecution. This outcome is compatible with guidelines issued by the Home Office in 1990 (Home Office, 1990).
authors.affiliation: Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist, Murray Royal Hospital, Perth, Scotland. tom.white@tpct.scot.nhs.uk
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rutherford
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland