FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC PRACTICE IN THE NORDIC COUNTRIES

The Nordic countries share the ideals of the welfare state and the vie w that a fair society must provide its weakest, most vulnerable member s with special protection. Though largely based on similar precepts, t he legislation is not identical in the five Nordic countries. Differen ces are found in the criteria for eligibility for psychiatric treatmen t, extent of court involvement, range of applicable measures, investig ational procedures, and in the content, organization, and financing of the forensic psychiatric sectors.