Culturally Sensitive Forensic Mental Healthcare for Racialized People Labeled as Not Criminally Responsible: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Racialized people who are labeled Not Criminally Responsible (NCR) are relatively overrepresented in forensic mental healthcare. In this respect, it is essential to provide culturally sensitive treatment in forensic mental healthcare in an attempt to reduce ethnic disparities. Both general mental healthcare and prison settings are actively exploring and producing empirical knowledge on culturally sensitive treatment, but it remains unclear what evidence is available for forensic mental healthcare delivery. To answer this question, a scoping review is conducted. Three databases (i.e. Medline, Web of Science and APA PsycArticles) were systematically searched for any qualitative, quantitative or theoretical paper about practices or treatment focused on racialized people labeled as NCR in forensic mental healthcare. In total, 551 articles were retrieved. After a detailed selection procedure by two independent researchers, only a small number of eligible articles (<10) were retained. Research on cultural practices in forensic mental healthcare seems to be predominantly based in Western countries and conducted in the last decade. Thematically, the research efforts are targeted toward culturally sensitive assessment tools, therapeutic interventions and programs, and forensic care organization. This study demonstrates how this research field is still in its early stages. There is an undeniable lack of evidence considering culturally sensitive therapeutic frameworks or approaches in forensic mental healthcare. In conclusion, it is imperative that this topic firmly emerges on the research agenda.

Keywords:

• cultural sensitivity
• forensic psychiatry
• racialized persons
• Not Criminally Responsible

Acknowledgements

The research team would like to thank Prof. Dr. Brian McKenna (Auckland University of Technology), Dr. Mary Barnao (Victoria University of Wellington – Te Herenga Waka), Prof. Dr. Mario Braakman (Tillburg University) and Prof. Dr. Michael Daffern (Swinburne University of Technology) for their time and particularly valuable input during the consultation round of this study.

Conflict of interest

There has been no competing interest or conflicts in conducting this study.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO), a Belgian scientific funding agency under Grant G011421N.