Doing Time in "The Devil's Chair:" Evaluating Nonjudicial Administrative Decisions to Isolate and Restrain Prisoners and Detainees With Mental Health Disabilities in Jails and Prisons. (November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dorfman, Deborah A.
• Other Names: Frailing Kelly guest-editor.; Perlin Michael L. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: American behavioral scientist. Volume 64:Number 12(2020)
• Page Start: 1702
• Page End: 1714
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Subjects: restrictive behavioral interventions -- therapeutic jurisprudence -- mental health disabilities; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Political science -- Periodicals; United States -- Social conditions -- Periodicals; United States -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; 300
• DOI: 10.1177/0002764220956695
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0002-7642

Abstract

I address the therapeutic jurisprudence implications of nonjudicial/administrative determinations to impose restrictive behavioral interventions on individuals with mental health disabilities in the jail and prison context. Such restrictive interventions include involuntarily medications, segregation, seclusion and restraints, and other related restrictive measures. I explain why our current policies violate the basic precepts of therapeutic jurisprudence and discuss the value of introducing therapeutic jurisprudence into this process.