Glossary
adjudication
The disposition or resolution of
a criminal case.
advanced directive
Documents written while a person
is competent specifying how decisions about treatment should be made if the
person becomes incompetent.
alternative therapies
Treatment toward mental health
through programs other than the traditional hospitalization and institutional
care options for patients. These
programs include various community-implemented treatment programs and facilities.
arraignment
The first appearance in court of
an individual after arrest at which the individual is informed of the charges
and a pretrial release/detention decision is made.
assertive case management
An intensive form of case
management intended to help patients to increase daily-task functioning,
residential stability, and independence, and to reduce their
hospitalizations. Assertive case
management substantially reduces inpatient service use, promotes continuity of
outpatient care, and increases community tenure and residence stability for
people with serious mental illness.
Assertive Community Treatment
(ACT)
Sometimes referred to as Program
of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT).
A team-based approach to the provision of treatment, rehabilitation, and
support services. ACT/PACT models of
treatment are built around a self-contained multidisciplinary team that serves
as the fixed point of responsibility for all patient care for a fixed group of
patients. In this approach, normally
used with clients with severe and persistent mental illness, the treatment team
typically provides all patient services
using a highly integrated approach to care.
assessment
An examination, more
comprehensive than a screening, performed on each newly admitted detainee (or
inmate) soon after arrival at an institution.
It usually includes a review of the medical screening, behavior
observations, an inquiry into any mental health history, and an assessment of
suicide potential.
atypical antipsychotics
Also known as second-generation
antipsychotics, they include these chemical classes: dibenzoxazepine (e.g.,
Clozapine), thienobenzodiazepine (e.g.,
Olanzapine), and benzisoxazole (e.g., Risperidone). These medications are known
as "atypical" because they are generally more effective in symptom
reduction than the earlier generation of antipsychotic medications, without the
side-effect profile typical of those medications.
bail
A condition of pretrial release
in which an individual who has been arrested must pay a specified amount to
obtain release. The purpose of bail is
to assure the appearance of the accused at all court proceedings.
behavioral health care
An encompassing term including
assessment and treatment of mental and/or psychoactive substance abuse
disorders.
blood levels of medication
The amount of a medication
present at any given time within the inmate's blood system - used to determine
whether a correct, or optimal, dosing regimen is being used in order to achieve
therapeutic effects.
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale
(BPRS)
The BPRS is an 18-item rating
scale used for evaluating psychiatric symptom change. Developed by John
Overall, Ph.D., and D. R. Gorham, Ph.D., the BPRS provides an efficient,
clinician-based means to assess a large number of psychiatric symptom
constructs. The BPRS generates valid patient information covering the full
spectrum of psychiatric diagnoses (e.g., bipolar disorder, major depression,
schizophrenia, psychosis, and anxiety).
call for service
When police are called to respond
to some event; does not necessarily indicate that a crime has been committed.
Typically, when police respond to calls, they are referred to as "out of
service."
case management
A range of services provided to
assist and support patients in developing their skills to gain access to needed
medical, behavioral health, housing, employment, social, educational, and other
services essential to meeting basic human services; linkages and training for
patient served in the use of basic community resources; and monitoring of
overall service delivery. This service
is generally provided by staff whose primary function is case management.
case-rated funding
Payment to the provider based on
one global fee for the patient case, regardless of the actual services
rendered.
character disorder
Personality disorder.
classification
A system within each correctional
facility/agency for determining and reviewing the level of security required by
each inmate, based upon history, current charges, behavior, and perceived risk
of violence or elopement.
clinical informatics
The use of information technology
and standardized protocols (e.g., algorithms or decision trees) to evaluate and
treat inmates for mental health or health problems.
clubhouse model
Based on a model developed at
Fountain House in New York, a clubhouse provides support services through a
comprehensive self-help community-based center. Staff and members work as teams to perform the tasks necessary
for the operation of the clubhouse.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
(CBT)
A manual-driven course of
structured counseling aimed toward increasing awareness of one's thoughts,
behaviors and actions, and the consequences of them. CBT is often used to
address specific problem areas such as anger management, moral reasoning,
criminal thinking, addiction, relapse prevention, and relationships.
command staff
Manages the daily operations and
future planning of a police department, (e.g., chief, deputy chiefs, and
majors).
Commission on Accreditation for
Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)
The Commission on Accreditation
for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., was established as an independent
accrediting authority in 1979 by the four major law enforcement membership
associations: International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP); National
Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE); National Sheriffs'
Association (NSA); and Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). The purpose of
CALEA is to improve delivery of law enforcement service by offering a body of
standards, developed by law enforcement practitioners, covering a wide range of
up-to-date law enforcement topics. The CALEA accreditation process is
voluntary.
community-based treatment
A concept of treatment that
focuses on the community services offered to an individual through a system of
community support. Individuals with
mental illness can remain citizens of their community if given support and
access to mainstream resources such as housing and vocational opportunities.
community corrections
The provision of corrections
services to offenders under supervision, in a low-security-level facility
located within a community or neighborhood, rather than in an institution;
includes probation/parole, electronic monitoring, and other arrangements where
offenders may have access to paid or volunteer work and/or be living within
their own homes.
community mental health system
The system intended to provide
public mental health services directly to those in need of assistance in the
communities where they reside.
Development of the community mental health system can be traced to
enactment of the Community Mental Health Centers Act of 1964. Intended to
provide a community-based alternative to institutional care for many people
with mental illness, implementation of the community mental health system
rested on expansion of outpatient services in the community, particularly in
federally funded community mental health centers. In many jurisdictions, the
community mental health system has yet to meet the expectations of its
designers or those who work within it, primarily because funding did not
materialize to provide needed services.
community policing
Philosophy of law enforcement
that includes prevention, partnering and collaboration, and problem
solving. See below for definitions of
these elements.
Community Policing Consortium
The Community Policing
Consortium, which is funded by the Office of Community Oriented Policing
Services, is composed of the International Association of Chiefs of Police
(IACP), National Sheriffs' Association (NSA), National Organization of Black
Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), and
Police Foundation. The consortium's
primary mission is to deliver community policing training and technical
assistance to police departments and sheriff's offices.
computer-aided dispatch (CAD )
Systems that fully automate call
taking and dispatching functions, and have the capability to provide an agency
with sophisticated record keeping and analysis functions. CAD systems work by recording caller information
such as phone number and address, prioritizing calls for service, and matching
those calls to available police resources, which are also monitored by the
system using vehicle locator systems.
This enables the system to quickly reference information about call
types, location, disposition, responding officer, and many other identifiers
that inform dispatchers and officers about appropriate responses.
consumer
In the mental health system,
"consumer" is the term most frequently applied to a person who
receives mental health services. The term is sometimes used more generically to
refer to anyone who has a diagnosis of mental illness. Not all persons with
mental illness accept this terminology, however. Some may prefer to be known
simply as clients of the facilities where they receive services. People who
feel they have been abused by the system or who reject traditional mental
health services may prefer a term such as "survivor."
co-occurring disorder
Refers to two or more disorders
occurring simultaneously. Generally
refers to mental health and substance abuse disorders but can refer to mental
health, physical health, developmental, or other disorders.
Crisis
Intervention Team (CIT)
Police program developed in
Memphis, Tennessee. A CIT is comprised of designated officers who are called
upon to respond to mental disturbance calls and crises, such as attempted
suicides. These officers participate in specialized training under the
instructional supervision of mental health providers, family advocates, and
mental health consumer groups. Officers trained under this program are skilled
in de-escalating potentially volatile situations, gathering relevant history,
and assessing medication information and the individual's social support
system. The CIT is recognized as a national program and has been replicated in
communities such as Portland, Oregon; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Seattle,
Washington; San Jose, California; and Waterloo, Iowa.
cross-training
The implementation of a training
program to educate individuals from both the criminal justice and the mental
health communities on the issues and concerns each confronts, cross-training
attempts to build awareness in both communities to help develop a more
coordinated approach to the needs of people with mental illness involved with
the criminal justice system.
cultural competence
Recognition of and response to
cultural concerns of ethnic and racial groups, including their histories,
traditions, beliefs, and value systems.
Cultural competence is one approach to helping mental health service systems
and professionals create better services and ensure their adequate utilization
by diverse populations. Cultural
competence entails a set of behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come
together in a system or agency or among professionals that enables that system,
or agency or those professionals to work effectively in cross-cultural
situations.
current situational stressors
Circumstances and environmental
realities that create significant pressure on, or greatly limit, an
individual's ability to function in a healthy, productive manner.
custodial transport
The transportation of an
individual when he or she is under arrest and is not free to leave. A suspect may be in handcuffs during
custodial transport to a police station.
decompensation
Temporary return to a lower level
of psychological adaptation or functioning, often occurring when an individual
is under considerable stress or has discontinued psychiatric medication against
medical advice.
de-escalation techniques
Verbal and nonverbal interpersonal
skills that enable an officer to recognize and defuse violent behavior,
preferably without using force, thus preserving the suspect's safety and
dignity.
defendant
An individual who has been
charged with but not yet convicted of a criminal charge.
defense attorney or counsel
The official who represents the
defendant in a criminal case.
developmental disability
A substantial handicap in mental
or physical functioning,with onset before the age of 18 and of indefinite
duration. Examples are autism, cerebral palsy,uncontrolled epilepsy,certain
other neuropathies,and mental retardation.
diagnostic profile
The symptoms exhibited by a
person that allow a clinician to arrive at a specific diagnosis.
discharge plan
A written plan that provides an
inmate with guidance to help him/her make a successful transition from
institution to community. Typically includes concrete plans in several areas
such as housing, employment or education, transportation, continued counseling
or social services, required supervision (i.e., probation/parole), and the
like.
dispatch function
Dispatch answers phone calls and
sends patrol cars to respond to those calls. From simple service calls, such as
helping someone locked out of his/her car, to true emergency calls, such as a
domestic violence call, nearly every police response is generated from
dispatch. Depending on the circumstances, every call is given a
"priority" or ranking and then dispatched to the appropriate beat
officers in a specific order. Dispatch
composition can differ greatly from one jurisdiction to the next. In some
jurisdictions, dispatch is located in the police department and is responsible
only for police emergencies. Dispatch can also be contracted with the county.
The same dispatchers can be responsible for fire and ambulance emergencies and
housed separately from the police department.
dispatchers
The individuals who serve as the
communications link between citizens and public safety agencies. Upon receiving
emergency calls for services, they assess the public safety response needs,
dispatch the appropriate personnel and equipment, and enable continued
communication between public safety agencies.
dispositional alternative
A dispositional option in which
the judge defers or withholds adjudication of the criminal case for a specified
period with the charges dismissed or reduced upon successful completion of the
deferral period.
diversion
[A] dispositional practice is
considered diversion if: (1) it offers
persons charged with criminal offenses alternatives to traditional criminal
justice or juvenile justice proceedings; and (2) it permits participation by
the accused only on a voluntary basis; and (3) it occurs no sooner than the
filing of formal charges and no later than a final adjudication of guilt; and (4)
it results in a dismissal of charges, or its equivalent, if the divertee
successfully completes the diversion process.
diversion program
A treatment program that
addresses the specific needs of a person with mental illness who has been
" diverted" from the criminal justice system either before arrest or
before trial.
drop-in centers
An integral component of
psychosocial rehabilitation that typically occurs in nonclinical settings with
minimal, if any, professional facilitation.
Drop-in centers usually focus on normalization and empowerment of people
with severe and persistent mental illness.
emergency evaluation
In many states, a police officer
has the authority to detain an individual who exhibits predefined
characteristics of mental illness or appears to be an imminent danger to
him/herself or to others. The officer
may transport the individual to a local hospital to receive an emergency mental
health evaluation. In some instances,
after an emergency mental health evaluation police are legally required to
continue detainment of the individual.
Emotionally Disturbed Person (EDP
)
Term commonly used by police to
refer to people with mental illness.
entitlement
Benefits provided by the federal
government for individuals with disabilities (disability is defined as
"the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of
any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected
to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a
continuous period of not less than 12 months"). Entitlements available to
people with mental illness include income support through the Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) programs,
and health coverage under Medicaid and Medicare.
evaluation
A face-to-face interview of the
patient and a review of all reasonably available health care records and
collateral information. Evaluation
includes a diagnostic formulation and, at minimum, an initial treatment plan.
Comprehensive
Mental Health Evaluation -- A face-to-face interview of the patient and a
review of all reasonably available health care records and collateral
information. It includes a diagnostic formulation and, at least, an initial
treatment plan.
evidence-based practices
Interventions and treatment
approaches that have been proven effective through a rigorous scientific
process.
face validity
Extent to which a measure seems
to evaluate a phenomenon on face value, or intuition. For example, a screening instrument that proposes to measure the
likelihood that an individual will commit suicide has face validity if, based
on the opinion of knowledgeable psychiatric professionals, the screening
instrument seems likely to identify individuals who are at a risk for suicide.
family psychoeducation
Activities to provide information
and education to families and significant others regarding mental disorders and
their treatment. This activity
acknowledges the importance of involving significant others who may be
essential in assisting a client to maintain treatment and to recover. Family
psychoeducation models include courses taught by mental health professionals as
well as those taught by family members themselves.
felony
An offense for which there is a
sentence of death or a term of imprisonment for one year or more.
Field Training Officer (FTO)
A new recruit generally goes
through the Field Training Officer program after finishing academy
training. The purpose of the FTO
program is to prepare officers in training to perform the essential duties of a
police officer and enhance the professionalism of future patrol divisions
through continuous quality improvement. Not all police departments have FTO
programs.
formularies
A standard list of the most
commonly used medications and preparations used within an institution and
stored at the facility in sufficient quantities to meet demand.
functional assessment
An evaluation of an inmate's
ability to function in society (e.g., socially, employment, personal care,
etc.).
gatekeeper functions
The functions performed by law
enforcement personnel and Crisis Intervention Team members for people with
mental illness. Refers to the fact that
these personnel often make the initial contact with persons exhibiting
characteristics of mental illness or are the first responders to mental health
emergencies and are often responsible for referring individuals to adequate
mental health services.
Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Legislation intended to provide
portability of employer-sponsored insurance from one job to another in order to
prevent what has become known as "job lock" or the inability to
change jobs because of the fear of losing health insurance. This act also makes it illegal to exclude
people from coverage because of preexisting conditions and offers some tax
deductions to self-employed people who pay their own health insurance premiums.
The act also directs the federal government to standardize billing codes and to
develop privacy standards related to individually identifiable health care
information.
holding cell
Any room or cell that is used to
hold incarcerated subjects until the booking process is completed. In the holding cell, a detainee typically
awaits his/her initial court appearance, after which (s)he will stay in the
holding cell until (s)he is either able to pay bail or sent to another
facility.
illness self-management
A growing trend within the mental
health field in which clients educate themselves to recognize symptoms of their
illness as well as factors that exacerbate or ameliorate them. By managing
those factors and taking remedial steps when symptoms become acute, some find
they are able to avoid more intrusive interventions by professionals. Those
consumers who are successful in managing their illness gain confidence in their
ability to achieve recovery.
inmate
An individual remanded to the
custody of a local/county, state, or federal correctional facility, including
jails and prisons.
inmate self-reporting
Obtaining personal information
directly from inmates, a practice that often lacks reliability.
inpatient facility
Any medical facility
- usually a hospital - where patients stay for a period of
time to receive treatment. Most mental
health systems differentiate between acute care (short-term) facilities and
long-term care facilities.
institutional care
Refers not only to hospital-based
treatment given to a patient, usually within a state mental health facility, on
a long-term basis, but also to the more restrictive, less normalized aspects of
such treatment.
instrument/instrumentation
Forms or other written tools used
to obtain information in a standardized manner to ensure consistency and
thorough data collection; usually refers to questionnaires or surveys that have
been field-tested for validity and reliability to maximize the likelihood that
they measure what they are intended to measure and are likely to do so
consistently.
intake
A set of procedures for accepting
an offender into a correctional facility as an inmate. Includes obtaining
personal history and information, searching personal belongings, and assigning
housing, among other procedures.
integrated services
Generally refers to providing an
array of services through a single agency or entity. Often requires discretionary or blended funding to cover the cost
of multiple services. A term most frequently used in the mental health field
when referring to services for co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse
disorders.
jail
A correctional facility designed
to detain individuals pending judicial hearings or to provide brief periods of
incarceration, generally less than one year, for sentenced inmates. Jails are
typically operated by local or county jurisdictions.
Law Enforcement Steering
Committee (LESC)
The Law Enforcement Steering Committee
is a coalition of national police labor, management, and research organizations
representing more than 550,000 law enforcement professionals. The LESC consists
of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers' Association (FLEOA), Fraternal Order
of Police (FOP), International Brotherhood of Police Officers (IBPO), Major
Cities Chiefs (MCC), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO),
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), National
Troopers Coalition (NTC), Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), and Police
Foundation.
less-than-lethal (LTL) force
Force
that is not likely to cause death or serious bodily harm. Examples of nonlethal
weapons include pepper spray, stun guns, and bean bag "bullets."
leveraged treatment
An approach to ensure an
individual receives treatment he or she may not otherwise accept. Both conditional treatment and mandated
treatment may be considered leveraged treatment.
mainstreaming
The integration of individuals
with mental illness back into their communities and a functional life within
the community with the assistance of community treatment programs.
maladaptive thinking
Thought patterns and
decision-making processes that, rather than promoting productive and healthy
solutions, result in further negative consequences for the individual and do
not necessarily solve the problem.
managed care
Managed care represents an
approach to funding health care services.
Generally, managed care provides a specific level of funding to serve a
population of people. Managed care
programs often restrict clients to seeing providers from an approved list and
may limit available services.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a jointly funded,
federal/state health insurance program for low-income and disabled people who meet needs-based eligibility
requirements. Nationally, it covers
approximately 36 million individuals including children, the aged, the blind,
and/or disabled and people who are eligible to receive federally assisted
income maintenance payments.
Medicare
Federal health insurance program
primarily for older Americans and people who retired early due to disability.
memoranda of understanding
Interagency agreement that serves
as a guideline for shared activities.
mental illness
Term that refers collectively to
all diagnosable mental disorders. Mental disorders are health conditions that
are characterized by alterations in thinking, mood, or behavior (or some
combination thereof) associated with distress and/or impaired functioning.
Serious
mental illness -- A term defined by federal regulations that generally
applies to mental disorders that interfere with some area of social
functioning.
Severe
mental illness -- A term that
applies to more seriously affected individuals. This category includes schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, other
severe forms of depression, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Severe
and persistent mental illness -- A term that incorporates the concepts of chronicity or
recurrence with the definition above, often used to describe clients with a
high level of need.
Mobile Crisis Team
Teams composed of mental health
service professionals who provide on-scene responses in mental health
emergencies.
noncustodial transport
Transport of an individual by the
police who is not under arrest and may leave at any time. Examples of noncustodial transport may
include shelter relocation for a person who is homeless or transport to a
hospital for a person who has a mental illness.
non-sworn personnel
Includes dispatchers, clerks,
technicians, and employees who are sworn for correctional or civil purposes but
do not possess sworn powers outside of these departments. Also known as
civilian employees.
offender
An individual who has been
convicted of a criminal charge.
outpatient treatment
Any
treatment that takes place on an outpatient (as opposed to inpatient or
residential) basis.
outstanding warrants
Warrants that indicate that an
individual has not properly resolved a police or court order, or that the
individual has eluded the service of an arrest warrant.
parity laws
Federal
and state laws that remove limits imposed by insurance providers on access to
mental health care that are more restrictive than limits imposed on access to
physical health care. Legislation requiring insurers to cover access to mental
and physical health care under equivalent terms and conditions is referred to
as parity legislation.
parole
A process whereby inmates can be
released from incarceration and transferred to community supervision prior to
the end of their sentence, given exceptional behavior and rehabilitation during
incarceration and a comprehensive review by a parole board. Parole has been
abolished in a number of states in recent years.
partnering and collaboration
The processes by which several
individuals or agencies make formal, sustained commitments to work together to
accomplish a common mission. For police
officers in particular, partnering and collaboration involve working with
community members, sometimes called stakeholders, who have a vested interest in
the problem and who are willing to commit time, talents, and resources toward
its solution.
Peace Officer Standards and
Training (POST)
State POSTs set standards for
police training and education for officers in all departments located in that
state. All states set such standards,
however not all use the term POST.
peer educators
Usually
refers to mental health consumers who work with their "peers" on a
volunteer or paid basis to help them understand and more effectively manage
their mental illness. Can also refer to family members who conduct family
education courses or any group in which shared experience forms the basis for
the trainer-trainee relationship.
pharmacotherapeutic protocols
Standardized methodologies for
the use of medical or psychiatric medications (e.g., dosing patterns and
instructions, monitoring blood levels, observing both clinical impact and side
effects, reviewing the need for continuation or discontinuation, etc.).
plea
A defendant's answer to the
criminal charges made against him or her.
The defendant may plead guilty, not guilty, no contest, among others.
plea discussion
A discussion between the
prosecutor and the defense attorney about an agreeable way to resolve a
criminal case.
plea offer
An offer presented by the
prosecutor to the defense attorney for the resolution of a criminal case.
post-acute withdrawal
A cluster of symptoms that
typically manifest following the initial period of physical withdrawal from the
use of addictive drugs or medications (e.g., agitation, or depression, and the
like).
prebooking diversion
Response strategy through which a
police officer can avoid detaining and filing criminal charges against a person
with a possible mental illness by making an immediate referral to community
mental health services or directly transporting the individual to a designated
hospital or drop-off center.
presentence investigation report
A report prepared by a probation
officer to provide the sentencing judge with thorough background information on
the offender to be sentenced.
pretrial detention
Holding a defendant in custody
while the criminal case is pending adjudication.
pretrial diversion
A dispositional option in which
the prosecutor offers a person charged with a criminal offense an alternative
to having the case prosecuted in the traditional criminal proceedings, with the
charges dismissed or reduced upon successful completion of the diversion
period.
pretrial release/detention
hearing
The hearing at which the judge
considers whether to release or detain a defendant.
pretrial services program
A program that provides
background information about a defendant to the judge at the pretrial
release/detention hearing, and that supervises conditions of pretrial release
imposed by the court.
prevention
A policing strategy that focuses
on reducing crime and the opportunity for crime. Prevention encompasses but goes far beyond the concepts of home
security and personal safety and extends to the whole community and its
engagement with public safety.
prison
A correctional facility that
houses inmates generally sentenced to a period of incarceration exceeding one
year. Prisons are typically operated by state corrections agencies, although
private companies also operate prisons in some states.
probation
A sentence imposed by the court
on an offender that requires the offender to abide by specified conditions,
under supervision in the community by a probation officer, for a specified
period of time.
problem solving
Strategy of policing, also known
as problem-oriented policing, that challenges officers to analyze the reasons
for repeated incidents of a particular crime(s) and to address the underlying
problems, factors, or issues that might be responsible for these repeated
incidents. Many credit Herman
Goldstein, a University of Wisconsin law professor, as the father of
problem-oriented policing.
Program of Assertive Community
Treatment (PACT)
See
Assertive Community Treatment.
prosecution
The pursuit of criminal charges
against an individual in court.
prosecutor
The official who brings charges
in court and represents the government in prosecuting those charges.
protective order
Order of the court that is issued
to provide immediate, short-term protection of a person or property.
psychiatric symptomatology
The
array of symptoms that an individual with mental illness may display.
psychosocial difficulty
Problems
an individual may have relating to people as a result of a psychiatric
disorder.
psychosocial rehabilitation
Professional
mental health services that bring together approaches from the rehabilitation
and the mental health fields. These
services combine pharmacological treatment, skills training, and psychological
and social support to clients and families in order to improve their lives and
functional capacities.
psychotic symptoms/episodes
Hallucinations
and delusions are the most common types of psychotic symptoms
demonstrated. However, other symptoms
of schizophrenia are divided into two classes: positive symptoms and negative
symptoms. Positive symptoms generally
involve the experience of something in consciousness that would not normally be
present, such as hallucinations and delusions.
Negative symptoms reflect the absence of thoughts and behaviors that
would otherwise be expected. Psychotic
symptoms may occur in a wide variety of mental disorders. They are most characteristically associated
with schizophrenia but psychotic symptoms can also occur in severe mood
disorders.
psychotropic medications
Prescription drugs that address
psychiatric symptoms, usually given to reduce anxiety, depression, or other
consequences of mental illness such as hallucinations, delusions, or bizarre
thinking.
quality of life crimes
Minor illegal behaviors
(generally misdemeanors) that jeopardize the community's sense of well-being
and safety, e.g., loitering, aggressive panhandling, vandalism, littering,
public urination, graffiti, and noise violations. Also known as nuisance
crimes.
recidivism/recidivate
The return of a released
ex-inmate to custody in a correctional facility. Typically results from either
an arrest for a new crime or from a technical violation such as failure to meet
conditions of release (probation/parole).
recovery
Definitions vary, depending on
one's perspective. Most people with mental illness see recovery as a process
tied closely to the experience of gaining a new and valued sense of self and
purpose, although some may see it as the end state of that process. Many
treatment approaches today are defined as "recovery-oriented,"
meaning that they provide consumers with tools that will enable them to gain a
combination of self-esteem and self-reliance, in turn allowing them to become
increasingly or fully independent of the mental health system.
referral
The process by which inmates who appear
to be in need of mental health treatment receive targeted assessment or
evaluation so that they can be assigned to appropriate services.
relapse prevention
The
steps taken in mental health and/or substance abuse treatment to avert relapse.
risk-sharing arrangements
Contractual
arrangement to share in financial risks and rewards associated with various
health care management techniques.
roll call
Brief period at beginning of
every police officer's tour of duty.
During this time, assignments are given out and officers are alerted to
any special situations requiring their attention. Roll call is also a useful
time to provide short 15-to-20 minute training sessions on timely topics. For
example, roll call can be an appropriate time to show a short video or explain
how a new law or court case affects the department.
Scan Analysis Response Assessment
(SARA)
Problem-solving model developed
by police officers and researchers in Newport News, Virginia, in the early to
mid-1980s. SARA model consists of scanning, analysis, response, and assessment,
and is a helpful framework for those engaged in crime control and crime
reduction.
schizophrenia
A
disorder of the prefrontal cortex and its ability to perform the essential
cognitive function of working memory.
Schizophrenia is characterized by profound disruption in cognition and
emotion, affecting the most fundamental human attributes: language, thought,
perception, affect, and sense of self.
The array of symptoms, while wide ranging, frequently includes psychotic
manifestations, such as hearing internal voices or experiencing other
sensations not connected to an obvious source (hallucinations) and assigning
unusual significance or meaning to normal events or holding fixed false
personal beliefs (delusions).
screening
receiving mental health screening -- Mental
health information and observations gathered for every new admitted inmate
during the intake procedures as part of the normal reception and classification
process by using standard forms and following standard procedures.
intake mental health screening -- A more
comprehensive examination performed on each newly admitted inmate within 14
days of arrival at an institution. It
usually includes a review of the medical screening, behavior observations, an
inquiry into any mental health history, and an assessment of suicide potential.
sedative hypnotics
Sedative-hypnotic drugs depress
central nervous system function. Used both as tranquilizers and sleeping pills,
these prescribed medications decrease anxiety, produce calm, and promote sleep;
in addition, they are used as anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake
Inhibitors (SSRIs)
A class
of antidepressants that primarily blocks the action of the transporter protein
for a neurotransmitter, serotonin, thus leaving more serotonin to remain at the
synapse. These medications appear to be effective because serotonin is directly
involved in the body's ability to regulate moods. Examples of these medications
include such brands as Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, and Zoloft.
sentence of time served
A sentence imposed by the court
upon an offender that provides that the time the offender already spent in
custody while the case was pending adjudication is sufficient punishment.
sentencing hearing
The hearing at which the judge imposes
a sentence on an offender.
sheriff
The chief law enforcement officer
of the county, whose general duties include keeping the peace within the
county, apprehending persons who break the peace, serving as custodian to the
county jail, and performing services to the county's courts.
Social Security Disability Income
(SSDI)
Individuals
who worked are "insured" by the Social Security taxes (F.I.C.A.) that
are withheld from their earnings to replace part of a person's earnings upon
retirement, disability, or for survivors when a worker dies. If insured workers (and, in some cases,
their dependents or survivors) become disabled, they may become eligible dfor
SSDI benefits. The amount received is
dependent upon how many years an individual has worked and the individual must
apply to determine if (s)he is eligible for benefits.
(See also entitlements.)
somatic disorders
Disorders
affecting the body, as distinguished from mental disorders.
Special Weapons and Tactics
(SWAT) Unit
Special police units that respond to high-risk incidents involving
hostages, barricaded suspects, sniper situations, terrorism, and riot control.
substance abuse
Substance
abuse stands alone as a disorder contributing annually to the deaths of 120,000
Americans. As many as half of people with mental illness develop alcohol or
other drug abuse problems at some point in their lives. Theories to explain this co-morbidity range
from genetic to psychosocial, but empirical support for any one theory is
inconclusive. Co-morbidity worsens clinical
course and outcomes for individuals with mental disorders. It is associated with symptom exacerbation,
treatment noncompliance, more frequent hospitalization, greater depression and
likelihood of suicide, incarceration, family friction, and high services, use,
and cost. In light of the extent of
mental disorder and substance abuse co-morbidity, substance abuse treatment is
a critical element of treatment for people with mental disorders.
suicidality
A term
that encompasses suicidal thoughts, ideation, plans, suicide attempts, and
completed suicide.
suicide screen
An interview or questionnaire
designed to determine whether an individual is currently experiencing thoughts,
feelings, impulses, or actual plans to commit suicide.
Supplemental Security Income
(SSI)
The SSI
Program was established in 1974 as a mechanism for incorporating various state
programs into one federal program. SSI
is a program that provides direct federal payments to the aged, blind, and
disabled people who have limited income and resources.
(See also entitlements.)
support services
Rehabilitative
services that are not strictly medical but are nonetheless considered to be
necessary to the recovery process for many clients. Such services are designed to develop and/or restore a patient's
functional capacities and may include support to enable clients to maintain
independent housing, education, employment, or other activities associated with
community integration.
supported employment
An
evidence-based service that matches and trains persons with severe
developmental, mental, or physical disabilities to jobs where their specific
skills and abilities make them valuable assets to employers.
supportive housing
A
system of professional and/or peer supports that allows a person with mental
illness to live independently in the community. Such supports may include
regular staff contact and assistance as needed with household chores, as well
as the availability of crisis services or other services designed to prevent
relapse, such as mental health, substance abuse, and employment. Also known as supported housing.
sworn personnel
All law enforcement officers with
full arrest powers who take an oath to uphold the United States Constitution
and the constitutions of their respective states, e.g., chiefs, sheriffs,
supervisors of line officers, and line officers active in the field.
symptom acuity
The severity of symptoms
experienced by a patient, usually requiring self-reporting, and rated on a
scale of 1 to 10.
telemedicine/telepsychiatry
Provision
of health care or psychiatry via telecommunications, typically utilizing
medical computer sciences. A qualified
mental health professional is able to interview and examine the detainee
through the use of closed-circuit television or telephone.
training
in-service -- Annual training required by
most jurisdictions of all officers. Training topics can include: orientation to
the agency's role, purpose, goals, policies, and procedures; working conditions
and regulations, firearms qualifications; any new department policies or
procedures; and relevant legal updates. In-service requirements differ in every
state and requirements can change yearly depending on state and/or local
guidelines.
recruit/preservice -- Training required by
police and sheriffs' departments for new recruits at academy. Recruit training
involves curriculum ranging from criminal law, defensive tactics, conflict
management/crisis intervention training, community policing, investigative
procedures to motor vehicle law and patrol procedures. Content and length of
training offered varies in every jurisdiction depending on state local
guidelines.
transitional employment
A key component of psychosocial
rehabilitation in which consumers set their own vocational goals, which form
the basis for motivation toward recovery of vocational roles.
traumatic brain injury
An often devastating condition
characterized by changes that occur when a particular area of the brain is
struck, penetrated, or pierced. Symptoms of traumatic brain injury such as poor
judgment or poor impulse control can mimic symptoms of some mental illnesses.
Uniform Crime Reports (UCR)
Federal reporting system that
provides data on crime based on police statistics submitted by city, county,
and state law enforcement agencies across the nation. The Crime Index total is the sum of selected offenses
used to gauge fluctuations in the overall volume and rate of crime reported to
law enforcement. The offenses included in the Crime Index total are the violent
crimes of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and
aggravated assault, and the property crimes of burglary, larceny-theft, and
motor vehicle theft.
uniformed patrol
Police division responsible for
the immediate response to calls for service. The members of this unit are all
distinctively uniformed.
vocational rehabilitation (VR)
This term covers a wide range of
services designed to assist individuals with disabilities in regaining skills
needed to function in the workplace. It
is generally delivered under the auspices of a state department of vocational
rehabilitation and supported by state and federal appropriations. Eligibility
for VR programs is established under the federal Rehabilitation Act. Programs
offered by state VR agencies may include supported employment, Ticket to Work,
Pathways to Independence, and work-readiness programs.