The Massachusetts forensic transition program for mentally ill offenders re-entering the community

On April 1, 1998, the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health established the forensic transition program for mentally ill offenders. The primary go al of the statewide program, which follows clients for three months after t heir release from correctional facilities, is to coordinate services and as sist in community reintegration. In the first year of the program, 233 ment ally ill offenders received services, Seventy-four clients had been dischar ged as of April 1, 1999, At discharge 42 of the 74 clients (57 percent) wer e living in the community and were receiving mental health set-vices. The o ther clients were hospitalized immediately after release (20 percent), rein carcerated (10 percent), hospitalized after a brief stay in the community ( 3 percent), or lost to follow-up (11 percent).