TY - JOUR T1 - The Forensic Mental Health Services Census of Forensic Populations in State Facilities JF - Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online JO - J Am Acad Psychiatry Law SP - 447 LP - 451 VL - 45 IS - 4 AU - Joseph D. Bloom AU - David Novosad Y1 - 2017/12/01 UR - http://jaapl.org/content/45/4/447.abstract N2 - This article focuses on the development of a Forensic Mental Health Services Census (FMHSC), proposed to differentiate between five different patient populations institutionalized in state facilities. The FMHSC would comprise patients who are civilly committed for mental illness or sexual dangerousness, those found incompetent to stand trial, those committed after a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, and those voluntarily committed. The census would be performed by state mental health authorities for each of these populations within the particular jurisdiction and then would be reported to a national coordinating organization. These data are important because of the large number of persons involved and the significant resources devoted to the management and treatment of each involuntary group. The census is necessary for clinical, research, and policy purposes, to provide more rational management of these populations, both within and across jurisdictions. ER -