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ANNEX B3
APPLICATION FOR SUSPENSION OF DETENTION - REQUESTS BY RESPONSIBLE MEDICAL OFFICERS
Please note that our target for reaching a decision on these requests is three weeks, provided that we have all of the information that we need.
(In addition, the RMO may also attach a copy of the suspension of detention plan prepared locally in the hospital)
To enable us to consider a request for escorted or unescorted suspension of detention you should comment on the following points (see also the checklist at Annex B2 of the Memorandum of Procedure):
1. Mental state
- Do you consider the patient's mental state to be stable?
- If so, how long has the patient been stable?
- To what extent does the patient have insight into his/her illness and the need for medication?
- What are the patient's current attitudes to index offence?
- Does the patient continue to express delusional/abnormal beliefs?
- If so, to what extent, and would such beliefs pose a risk to the public?
2. Behaviour
- Has the patient shown any evidence of physical or verbal aggression since the last annual statutory report?
- If so, give details and action taken.
- Has the patient attempted any self harm since the last annual statutory report?
3. Treatment Plan
What is the nature of counselling/therapy the patient has received?
- What is the degree to which the patient has shown improvement as a result?
- What are the therapeutic goals that will be set for the suspension of detention?
- What is the contribution that this suspension of detention will make:
- to the longer-term programme of rehabilitation?
- to the overall treatment plan? and
- how will the milestones and achievements that will mark the leave a success be measured?
4. Sex Offenders
- Has the patient shown any inappropriate sexual behaviour towards anyone since the last annual statutory report?
- What are current plans regarding attendance at a Sex Offenders Group?
5. Substance Abuse and its effect on the patient's mental state
- What role, if any, did substance abuse play in the index offence?
- What effect does substance abuse have on the patient's mental state?
- If substance abuse is a concern, will the patient be tested on return from leave?
- If so: at random? routinely?
6. Risk to Victims and Others
- What is your assessment of the risk (s)he would present to
- past victims
- any specific group of people
- the public in general?
- What is the patient's attitude to any previous victims?
- How would any risks be managed?
7. Suspension of detention
You may also attach a copy of the suspension of detention plan prepared locally in the hospital
- Has the patient had any leave in the hospital grounds?
- escorted/unescorted?
- If so, how often is this used?
- Have you at any time rescinded leave in the hospital grounds? If so, why?
- What are the key issues that the suspension of detention will test in respect of:
- the risk assessment?
- the patient's mental disorder?
- Are there any special sensitivities about particular venues to be visited e.g.
- the area where the index offence took place, or
- possible encounter with victims or family, or
- local hostility towards the patient?
- If so, how would they be managed?
- If the crime or the patient are high public profile locally or nationally, how do you propose to minimise the risk of publicity?
8. Abscond Risk
- Have there been any incidents of absconding?
- What risk do you believe the patient would present now of absconding?
- What plans are in place if the patient were to abscond? ( e.g. give details of discussions that have taken place with police and social work)
9. General
- Is this request supported by all members of the multidisciplinary team and the patient?
- Please give below comments from other members of the multidisciplinary team:
- Is there anything else we should be made aware of?
Signed:
Responsible Medical Officer ( RMO)
Date:
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