I'm not sure if I'm posting this message in the right newsgroup – please let me know if I'm not. I'm doing a small research about forensic psychology hospitals. I have very specific questions about it and I would really appreciate if somebody could open my eyes a little. I understand that it's much better just to go there and do my research but I would like to have as much info as possible from different sources (this is what newsgroups are about, right?). Last thing (or maybe it should be the first things) - I'm Russian so please don't mention my mistakes. I'm still learning. Here are my questions (I understand that many of them will look very silly for you but I'm not in this field (I'm computer professional) so forgive me): How patients live in this type of hospitals? Do they have their own rooms? If they do what kind of room is this (if it's possible give a little de_script_ion)? Are patients allowed to talk to other patients (I assume that those people are pretty much dangerous)? How they receive their treatment (they have to stay in line or staff just brings medication in their rooms)? Do patients have the right to use phone (freely)? How patients protected from each other? How staff is allowed to control patients (or how they are allowed to protect themselves)? If doctor needs to see particular patient how is this happening? Staff brings this patient to doctor's office or doctor goes to patient? Is patient wearing something like handcuffs (I think they probably don't but I just don't know how you call those things)? If a patient in the doctor's office is he/she there only with the doctor or some kind of guards are also there (maybe the guards are staying near the door or doctor has a button under the table to call for help)? How the entrance to a hospital is secured or protected (video cameras, guards, _meta_l cage on the doors)? Do doctors in these hospitals have only inpatients or they also have outpatients? Is it possible for NGRI (Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity) to leave the hospital after treatment was successful or they still have to go to trial? If NGRI spent time in a hospital that equals or more then time he or she might have spent in prison if convicted can this person be released from hospital (if treatment was successful)? If he/she can are they allowed to come back every week or months to be reevaluated? What is amount of time after which this person is not required to come back to hospital any more? Do occupational psychologists work in forensic psychology hospitals (especially those who work with police officers)? If they do what is the usual load on them (10% outpatient; 90% inpatient)? How doctor's usually starting their conversation with inpatient (those who is murder for example – I understand all doctor's are different but do they just say Hello, How're doing, etc.)? Do doctors record their conversation with patients? If you are a doctor what do you feel when talking to dangerous patients? If they do where they keep tapes (in the office or at home)? For how long they keep it? That's it for now. I know it looks horribly long but if you could just give me short answers to these questions – I'll be more than happy. From the other hand if you need computer help or advice don't hesitate to ask (send me e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ). Thank you in advance, Andrew

Staff brings this patient to doctor's office or doctor goes to patient? both

Mark, Thank you very much for your response. I honestly thought nobody would respond. Your answers already helped me a lot. Could I ask some more questions? I hope you don't mind answering them. How often something bad was happening (if was) in forensics unit of hospital you worked at? Could you describe the most common problems staff faces in forensic unit? When patients are eating what kind of silverware they are using (is it plastic or just normal _meta_l stuff)? Is a doctors office in a separate (secured) area from the area where patients are living (I assume it is)? If a doctor is recording conversation with patient should he/she ask if that's OK with this patient? How usually does doctor's office look like (pictures on the wall, _meta_l or wooden door and table, carpet on the floor, windows etc.)? If there are windows in doctor's office are they protected somehow? What usually patients are wearing in hospitals? What is the schedule for them (if you could recall)? Do patients in forensic units have access to TV or other media? I assume they are not allowed to communicate with other patients that are not in forensic unit (correct me if I'm wrong)? Where the court sends a person for psychological evaluation? If it's forensic unit or hospital do they live with those who already was found mentally ill or hospital has something different for them? Do you know anything about amnesia? If you do: Do you know if there are special hospitals for treating amnesia or this it's considered to be psychological problem and people with amnesia suppose to stay in psychiatric hospital? What are common methods of treating amnesia (I understand it can take a couple of very thick books to describe this but if you could just explain briefly)? Do you know anything about psychologists who work with police department (counseling, stress management, debriefing after traumatic incidents)? I guess enough for today, Thank you for your help, Andrew

If it's forensic unit or hospital do they live with those who already was found mentally ill or hospital has something different for them? well, they stay with other forensic patients.  Some of them are awaiting trial or evaluation so technically they may not have been diagnosed as mentally ill but that was the presumption (at least informally