Gilman B, Spangler P F, Meadows S
Office of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
Ment Retard. 1990 Aug;28(4):241-4.
Pennsylvania law mandates that involuntary commitment of persons with mental retardation be reviewed by the court system in order to assure due process. Fifty such cases in Philadelphia were reviewed in court over a period of one year and subsequently examined to determine current court trends toward institutional placement. Factors evaluated included characteristics of the individual, the presiding court, the impact of a court-appointed Child Advocate or Public Defender, and availability of residential alternatives. Results indicate that children were committed to institutional settings less frequently than adults. Other critical factors were prior placement, recommendations of advocates, and availability of alternative services.
宾夕法尼亚州法律规定，为确保正当程序，智障人士的非自愿入院须由法院系统进行审查。在一年时间里，费城有50起此类案件在法庭上接受了审查，随后进行了调查，以确定当前法院对机构安置的倾向。评估的因素包括个人特征、主审法院、法院指定的儿童辩护人或公设辩护人的影响，以及其他居住选择的可用性。结果表明，儿童被安置到机构环境中的频率低于成年人。其他关键因素是先前的安置情况、辩护人的建议以及替代服务的可用性。
