Topic: A Broader View / Just Getting Started

Since the current trend in the CJ is alternative sentencing and more emphasis on community corrections – check out those states that are actively revising their sentencing laws to re-direct their resources to the parole and probation areas. Those trends are usually shown in the DOJ reports on the web.

Topic: Letter of The Law / Mentally Ill Inmates

I don’t think this question can be univerally answered as every agency has a different policy regarding the treatment and evaluation of serious mentally ill (SMI) inmates within their custody. In AZ for example, the inmate’s family is only involved if they have consent to treat power of attorney for the inmate. Otherwise they are not involved in the treatment of evaluation of the inmate’s mental condition. the confidentiality laws prohibit revealing such a condition to a non-authorized person whether family or not. I hope this helps. To answer the question of duty of RN’s this is channeled through the facility health administrator for action.. again for ADOC only per policy.