Citation

Miraglia R, Hall D. J. Am. Acad. Psychiatry Law 2011; 39(4): 524-534.

Affiliation

NYS Office of Mental Health, 44 Holland Avenue, Albany, NY 12229. cofodlh@omh.state.ny.us.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, Publisher American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

22159980

Abstract

State psychiatric hospitals are increasingly populated by forensic patients. In New York State, the growth in the forensic population is largely attributable to increased lengths of stay of patients deemed not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI). This research was conducted to determine whether longer periods of hospitalization are associated with better outcomes in the community, as measured by re-arrest for any offense and re-arrest for violence. The sample included 386 NGRI patients released into the community in New York State. A Cox regression proportional hazards model was used to assess the unique effects of length of hospitalization on re-arrest. The results showed that the length of treatment had little effect on either measure of re-arrest. Re-arrest was largely explained by demographics and prior criminal histories.

Language: en