Jean-Pierre Bouchard

Prisoners in units for difficult patients

Prisoners, on remand or convicted, can be placed for a variable amount of time in a unit for difficult patients if their pathological mental state so requires. For the most part, their therapeutic care does not depend on their status as prisoner. The treatments provided are those indicated for their psychological pathologies and their potential or known dangerousness. However, some administrative measures make a distinction between their treatment and that of non-prisoner patients placed in these secure psychiatric units.

Groupes de parole, prévenir la violence et la dangerosité

A support group brings together several people around a common theme. It aims to favour the expression of experiences, suffering, conflicts, problems as well as discussions about potential improvements or solutions. The themes of these supervised exchanges are varied and numerous. They might cover violent acts against oneself or others in order to lessen or prevent such violence and dangerousness. Support groups are often supervised and facilitated by psychologists, frequently accompanied by nurses when they take place within a healthcare setting.

L’injonction de soins,une mesure pour éviter la récidive

In France, court-ordered therapy is a measure applicable in the framework of socio-judicial supervision, created by the law of 17th June 1998 relating to the prevention and suppression of sex offences, as well as the protection of minors. Since its introduction, its indications have been extended to include other offences. By organising a triangulation of the relations between the legal and health care systems (doctors and psychologists) through the intermediary of the doctor-coordinator, this programme aims to prevent reoffending.