N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 14 § 57.1

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 50, December 11, 2024

Section 57.1 - Background

(a) The forensic mental health system offers care to New Yorkers pursuant to Mental Hygiene, Criminal Procedure, and Correction Laws. The office ensures that mental health services are available to members of this population at multiple geographical points throughout the forensic system. In addition to the Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center and Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center, the office operates two maximum security regional forensic units: the Rochester Regional Forensic Unit, located on the grounds of the Rochester Psychiatric Center, and the Northeast Regional Forensic Unit, located at Central New York Psychiatric Center.

(b) These forensic facilities and units offer a range and variety of programs and services for the care, treatment, and rehabilitation of persons age 16 and over with mental illness, comparable with those offered at other hospitals in the Office of Mental Health. In addition, they have the staff and physical surroundings to enable them to offer such programs and services to patients requiring closer supervision than can be given at other hospitals.

(c) Patients whose behavior is such as to raise the likelihood of their causing harm to others cannot be given the care and treatment they require at such other hospitals operated by the Office of Mental Health since, for the protection of other patients and staff of such hospitals, they must be kept in closed wards while in a civil facility.

(d) The Mid-Hudson Forensic Psychiatric Center, Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center, Rochester Regional Forensic Unit and Northeast Regional Forensic Unit have specially trained staff and a secure perimeter. As such, these settings permit freer movement, within facility grounds, of patients who pose a risk of harm to others, as well as offer them an opportunity for rehabilitation, recreation, and therapies which, because of their need for close supervision, would not be available for them at the other hospitals.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 14 § 57.1