Simon Kevin M, Savage Jenna, Krebs Lauryn, Wegiel Trinity, Morabito Melissa S
Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, and Boston Public Health Commission, Boston (Simon); Office of Research and Development, Boston Police Department, Boston (Savage); School of Criminology and Justice Studies, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell (Krebs, Wegiel, Morabito).
Psychiatr Serv. 2025 Feb 1;76(2):120-125. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.20230411. Epub 2024 Nov 5.
To improve understanding of the application process for temporary involuntary hospitalization (Section 12 of the Massachusetts General Laws) in Boston, the authors focused on cases involving the Boston Police Department (PD) and the information shared about the individuals involved.
A retrospective analysis was conducted on all Section 12 applications submitted to the Boston PD by external clinicians from July 14, 2021, to June 30, 2022. The authors analyzed 488 applications processed by the Boston PD's Street Outreach Unit, examining demographic information, reasons for requests, information provided by petitioners, and the status of the applications (completed vs. not).
The analysis revealed racial disparities: 41% of involuntary hospitalization applications were for individuals identified as Black or African American, but this racial group represents only 23% of Boston's population. Racial-ethnic data were based on police perceptions, and 21% of cases lacked race-ethnicity data. Seventy-six percent of applications were submitted without a direct clinical examination by petitioners, who did not justify the omission. The Boston PD completed 70% of the requested involuntary hospitalization orders.
This study identified substantial racial disparities in Section 12 applications, which disproportionately involved Black or African American individuals. The frequent absence of direct clinical examinations before application submissions and the lack of justification indicated a need for regulatory oversight and enhanced petitioner training. Incomplete demographic data underscored the need for improved data collection and reporting practices. These findings highlight the need for reforms to ensure equitable, transparent, and best practice-aligned involuntary hospitalization processes.
为了更好地理解波士顿临时非自愿住院申请程序（《马萨诸塞州普通法》第12条），作者聚焦于涉及波士顿警察局（PD）的案例以及所共享的相关人员信息。
对2021年7月14日至2022年6月30日期间外部临床医生提交给波士顿警察局的所有第12条申请进行回顾性分析。作者分析了波士顿警察局街头外展股处理的488份申请，审查了人口统计学信息、申请原因、申请人提供的信息以及申请状态（已完成与未完成）。
分析揭示了种族差异：41%的非自愿住院申请针对被认定为黑人或非裔美国人的个体，但该种族群体仅占波士顿人口的23%。种族 - 族裔数据基于警方的认知，21%的案例缺乏种族 - 族裔数据。76%的申请在申请人未进行直接临床检查的情况下提交，且申请人未对该遗漏作出解释。波士顿警察局完成了70%所要求的非自愿住院命令。
本研究发现第12条申请中存在显著的种族差异，其中黑人或非裔美国人个体所占比例过高。申请提交前频繁缺乏直接临床检查以及缺乏正当理由表明需要监管监督和加强对申请人的培训。不完整的人口统计学数据凸显了改进数据收集和报告做法的必要性。这些发现强调了进行改革以确保非自愿住院程序公平、透明且符合最佳实践的必要性。
