Abstract
Non-forensic or regular assertive community treatment (ACT) has positive effects on non-forensic outcomes but has poor effects on forensic outcome measures. In this study, we examined non-forensic and forensic outcome measures of a forensic adaptation of ACT (ForACT) within a continuum of care for internees. Data were collected retrospectively from files of 70 participants in the ForACT group who had been released from a forensic hospital. The control group comprised internees who had left prison and entered community-based care (n = 56). The ForACT group demonstrated significantly better outcomes on forensic measures, such as arrests and incarcerations, and had better community tenure. However, this group showed high hospitalization rates. The findings indicate that this type of community-based care can be beneficial for such internees; however, internees continue to experience difficulties reintegrating into society.
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Funding was obtained from the Scientific fund of the Broeders van Liefde.
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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Antwerp with the number BE300201628708. The study was also done with the written authorisation of the Belgian prison system (EPI).
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Marquant, T., Sabbe, B., Van Nuffel, M. et al. Forensic Assertive Community Treatment in a Continuum of Care for Male Internees in Belgium: Results After 33 Months. Community Ment Health J 54, 58–65 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-017-0153-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-017-0153-4