DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION AND CRIMINALIZATION - TINKERING IN THE INTERSTICES

The mental health service system has undergone continuous change for m ore than three decades. Undoubtedly, some of its problems are related to economic, social and political factors. This contribution discusses problems of deinstitutionalization, homelessness and criminalization of the mentally ill persons. To conclude, it proposes a number of ways by which better services could be rendered to the mentally disordered persons, particularly in areas that interface with the criminal justi ce system. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.