Ten Years of Operation of a Small Belgian Medium-Security Unit—How Are We Doing?

Abstract

International literature suggests that forensic care is best organized by independent security levels with appropriate infrastructure, procedures, and therapeutic goals. However, resources are not always sufficient to allow for organizing this way. We describe the functioning of a medium-security unit (MSU) where we not only rehabilitate forensic patients for their transition from prison to community life but also readmit relapsing patients and provide time-outs for patients in crisis. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this cohabitation for patients and personnel. This study is also the first to present figures regarding readmissions of relapsing patients and prison remittal in Belgium from a MSU point of view.

Keywords:

• Forensic care
• security
• prison
• community

Notes

1 In Belgium, forensic care is organized with contracts between the government and private institutions such as hospitals.

2 Originally, patients should have been admitted to an observation center. This was legally planned in the previous law of internment, but such centers were never commissioned. These incarcerations are supposed to be temporary and patients are supposed to quickly move to forensic services, but in reality, these incarcerations can last many months due to the unavailability of forensic beds.