Enhancement of Justice System Interventions for High-Risk Violent Psychiatric Patients

Abstract

This research aims to investigate problems in the Thai justice system’s operations concerning psychiatric patients at high risk of committing violence and develop appropriate and effective operational strategies. The study employed document analysis and in-depth interviews with eighteen key informants. Additionally, a focus group discussion was held with six participants from professional groups.

The research identified several issues within the Thai justice system, categorized into four key areas: 1) Manpower including a shortage of correctional and police officers, a lack of medical professionals with relevant expertise, overburdened staff, inadequate understanding among relatives and the public, and insufficient knowledgeable justice personnel; 2) Insufficient budget (Money); 3) Materials: insufficient inpatient bed capacity due to the limited number of psychiatric hospitals in Thailand, along with a shortage of vehicles, ambulances, and essential operational equipment; and 4) Management: prolonged justice system procedures and treatment duration, limited inter-agency collaboration, inefficiencies in referral and follow-up systems, absence of a dedicated responsible agency, legal constraints hindering law enforcement operations, and lack of data integration and a unified patient information platform.

To enhance the effectiveness of the Thai justice system operations, the research recommended: 1) expanding medical and justice system personnel, including psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, forensic psychiatric nurses, psychologists, social workers, and related professionals; 2) promoting accurate knowledge of psychiatric patient care among society, communities, and families; 3) promoting accurate knowledge of psychiatric patient care among related personnel; 4) promoting inter-agency collaboration or a collaborative network involving external government and private agencies; 5) establishing an organization specifically responsible for psychiatric patient care to enhance the effectiveness of treatment and the judicial process; 6) streamlining procedures for handling psychiatric patients; 7) improving the sufficiency of bed capacity for psychiatric patients; and 8) increasing budget allocation for relevant agencies.