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Monitoring a correctional mental health care system: the role of the mental health expert
Author(s) -
Metzner Jeffrey L.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
behavioral sciences and the law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.649
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1099-0798
pISSN - 0735-3936
DOI - 10.1002/bsl.879
Subject(s) - mental health , remedial education , class action , action plan , prison , remedial action , action (physics) , process (computing) , plan (archaeology) , class (philosophy) , medicine , health care , nursing , psychology , psychiatry , criminology , political science , computer science , law , management , state (computer science) , algorithm , artificial intelligence , history , ecology , archaeology , contamination , biology , operating system , quantum mechanics , physics , economics , environmental remediation , mathematics education
Class action litigation has been instrumental in jail and prison reform over the past four decades. This article provides a very brief introduction underlying the legal basis for such litigation. It focuses on the role of the mental health expert in monitoring a correctional mental health care system as a result of class action litigation including issues related to selection of the expert, development of the remedial plan, and monitoring of the implementation of the remedial plan. The importance of policies and procedures and a quality improvement process is emphasized. Essential elements of the monitoring process, prior to and during the site assessment, are described. Inmates and correctional staff alike have benefited substantially from such litigation in the form of increased resources and positive changes in institutional culture. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.