Summary:

A person's mental illness is taken into account when they are tried for a serious
crime. Forensicare provides independent reports to help the Court decide on
appropriate sentences. The Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried)
Act 1997 (CMIA) sets out how a court must deal with these cases. The decision to
place someone under supervision is reached following a lengthy legal process. This
procedure guarantees that all relevant information are considered. A psychiatrist
will assess an accused person for mental impairment or fitness to stand trial.
Forensicare's report helps the court decide whether the person receives a custodial
supervision order or non-custodial supervision under the CMIA. A person under
a custodial supervision order is confined at the secure Thomas Embling Hospital,
where they will undergo mandatory mental health care. A non-custodial
supervision order means that the individual is allowed to reside and get treatment
in the community under court-imposed limitations. When the prisoner has served
the time that be set in the court, they can go free. A Custodial Supervision Order is
an indefinite order that keeps a person under supervision. It can be at Thomas
Embling Hospital, or in the community, until the court makes a decision to end the
order. Forensicare helps people on custodial supervision orders to receive
treatment for mental illness. The Forensic Leave Panel is independent from the
Hospital and Forensicare. It gets reports from the person's treating doctor and
clinical team. The Panel can only allow leave if it will contribute to rehabilitation,
and that the safety of members of the public will not be put at risk. A person on a
Custodial Supervision Order can apply to the Court for extended leave. Extended
leave is the only way a person can move from the Hospital to the community. The
Panel can grant leave for up to six months only. After that the person must apply
again for more leave. A person under a custodial supervision order can apply for
extended leave to live in the community. If successful, they are no longer under the
authority of the court and can continue as a client of their local mental health
services. The long-term goal of all supervision orders is always successful
rehabilitation and a safer community.
Article: Mental illness and the criminal law

Supervision orders: compulsory treatment instead of prison

The criminal law recognises that a person’s mental illness should be taken into
account when they are tried for a serious crime and when they are sentenced. In
most criminal cases where the accused person has a mental illness this is
considered when the court decides on a sentence. In these cases, Forensicare
sometimes provides an independent report to the Court about the person’s
mental illness so the Court can determine an appropriate sentence.

In a small number of cases every year the accused person raises the defence of
“mental impairment” or their lawyer may argue they are “not fit to stand
trial”. The defence of mental impairment is raised where the accused person’s
mental illness meant that they did not know what they were doing when they
committed the crime, or they couldn’t understand that what they did was
wrong. The issue of whether a person is “fit to stand trial” is raised where their
mental illness means they cannot understand the court process at the time of the
trial. The Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act
1997 (CMIA) sets out the law about how a court must deal with these cases and
what treatment and supervision a person must have.

If the person is found not guilty by reason of mental impairment, or unfit to

stand trial, the court will put them on a supervision order. These cases only
account for less than 1% of criminal cases coming before the Supreme Court or
County Court each year. Forensicare is involved in these cases because it
prepares reports to assist the court and supervises and treats people with a
mental illness where a Court has made a supervision order under the CMIA. A
supervision order is an indefinite order. Sometimes people spend longer on a
supervision order than they would in jail for the same crime. If a person is on a
supervision order, receiving mental health treatment is compulsory.

The court decides who gets a supervision order

The decision to place a person on a supervision order is made after a complex

legal process. This process ensures that all the facts are taken into consideration.

Independent psychiatric reports are made to assist the court

Where the accused person is raising the defence of mental impairment or fitness
to stand trial their lawyer will organise for a psychiatric report. A psychiatrist
will then assess the person. The psychiatrist may also gather medical history and
records, and other necessary information. They will write a report that is given to
the court on whether they think the person meets the legal requirements for the
defence of mental impairment.

The prosecution will also request an independent report from Forensicare. If

both independent experts agree about the defence of mental impairment or
fitness to stand trial then the judge will look at the evidence and make a decision.
If the experts disagree, then the person goes to trial, and the jury will decide after
hearing evidence.

Forensicare advises the court about treatment

When it is decided that the person is not guilty by reason of mental impairment
or unfit to stand trial, the court declares that they are liable to supervision under
the CMIA.

Where the person has a mental illness, the court orders Forensicare to provide a
report with recommendations for treatment. Forensicare’s report helps the court
decide whether the person receives a custodial supervision order or a non-
custodial supervision order.

Two types of supervision orders

A custodial supervision order means a person is held at the secure Thomas

Embling Hospital, where they will receive compulsory hospital treatment for
their mental health. The majority of people being treated at Thomas Embling
Hospital are on this order.

A non-custodial supervision order means that the person lives and receives
treatment in the community on conditions which are set by the court. Generally
people receive a non-custodial order because they are a low risk to the
community or themselves.

The conditions of a non-custodial supervision order include that the person:

 • is under supervision by Forensicare
• receive compulsory ongoing treatment from their local area mental health
service.

The conditions of a non-custodial supervision order act as safeguards to help

keep both the community and the person safe. If the mental health team treating
the person believe that there are serious risks to the community, the person can
be apprehended and taken to hospital for mental health treatment. At the end of
May 2018 there are 58 people on a non-custodial order living in the community
receiving treatment.

A supervision order is indefinite

Prison sentences are for a set length of time, and when the prisoner has served
their time, they can go free.

A supervision order is an indefinite order. This means the person remain under
supervision, either at Thomas Embling Hospital, or in the community, until the
court makes a decision to end the order (called “revoking” the order). The court
only revokes an order when the court decides the person is not a threat to
themselves or the community.

Sometimes people wait in prison when the court makes a supervision order

The law says that when a person has been found not guilty by reason of mental
impairment they should receive treatment in hospital, not in prison. Before a
court sends a person on a Custodial Supervision Order to Thomas Embling
Hospital, Forensicare must confirm there is a bed available to provide treatment
and services. Because of the number of beds at the Hospital and the growing
number of people on a custodial supervision order, sometimes people have to
wait in prison before they can be transferred to the Hospital. When they are in
prison they still receive treatment for their mental illness.

Treatment on a supervision order is a slow and careful process

When a person is on a Custodial Supervision Order at the Hospital, treatment
and working with them on rehabilitation and recovery is a long and slow process
that involves lots of checks and balances. As well as treatment with medication,
we work with individuals and their families or carers to identify goals and the
steps they need to take to be safe and recover.

Treatment includes group and individual counselling and helping people to

understand what led them to criminal behaviour and the impact of their criminal
behaviour. It also includes physical and spiritual health needs, understanding
the side effects of medication, education and vocational skills. We work with
people to give them the skills to look after themselves and live independently.
Periods of leave are an important part of this process.

Leave is granted in slowly increasing amounts

The first step is community leave. To be granted community leave the person
must apply to the Forensic Leave Panel. The Panel is independent from the
Hospital and Forensicare. It gets reports from the person’s treating doctor and
clinical team. The law says the Panel can only allow leave if it will contribute to
the person’s rehabilitation, and that the leave will not put the safety of members
of the public at risk.

Every time a person takes leave, the person will have a mental state examination
– a one-on-one interview with a Forensicare staff member. Leave will not be
permitted if the staff member has any concerns about the person’s mental state.

More detailed information can be found on our community leave page.

Leave is accompanied by staff members at first

At first, the person is accompanied by staff members, and can only go out on
leave for short periods of time. As they continue with their rehabilitation over
months or years, they may progress to accompanied leave for longer periods of
time, and then unescorted leave. Changes to the type of leave a person has must
be approved by the Panel. Each case is different and the Panel looks at the
individual person’s circumstances. There are people on a Custodial Supervision
Order at the Hospital who have no leave at all, even after years.

Leave is often used to reconnect with family, develop living skills, for education
and to shop for food to cook meals.

After some time, the Panel may grant the person overnight leave for up to 3
nights a week. This helps prepare the person for moving back into the
community.

The Panel can grant leave for up to six months only. After the six months is up,
the person must apply again for more leave.

Moving from Hospital to live in the community involves expert supervision and
safeguards

After a period of treatment and rehabilitation at Thomas Embling Hospital, and

successful unescorted community leave, a person can apply to the court
for extended leave. Extended leave granted by the court is the only way a person
on a Custodial Supervision Order can move from living in the Hospital to living
in the community. The court can only allow extended leave where it believes
there is no serious risk to the community.

When the Court makes a decision about extended leave it holds a hearing where
the judge gets written reports from Forensicare and hears evidence from the
treating doctors at the Hospital and Forensicare’s community service. The court
can also receive statements from victims of the original crime and has to notify
certain victims before the hearing takes place. The court can decide to grant
extended leave or it can refuse the person’s application.

If extended leave is allowed the person can live and receive treatment in the
community for up to twelve months. There are strict conditions on this leave.
Usually these conditions include that the person:

• attend regular appointments and supervision with Forensicare

• continue mental health treatment
 • does not leave Victoria.

These conditions act as safeguards to help keep both the community and the
person safe. During the twelve months, if the mental health team treating the
person believe that there are serious risks to the community, the person can be
apprehended and taken to hospital for mental health treatment.

Becoming free of a supervision order is a legal process

If extended leave is successful, the person can apply to the court to change their
custodial supervision order to a non-custodial supervision order. This means
they are still supervised by Forensicare, but are treated by their local mental
health service in the community. All the conditions of a non-custodial
supervision order apply.

Once the person is on a non-custodial supervision order, they may apply to the
court to revoke this order. If successful, this means they are no longer under the
authority of the court and can continue as a client of their local mental health
services, like any other person in the community.

Each of these legal steps requires a court hearing where victims are notified and
reports are provided to the judge.

Rehabilitation is good for the person, and the community

Most prisoners have the opportunity to live in the community once they have
finished their sentence. People under a custodial supervision order can also live
in the community, once they are well again and if there is no risk to community
safety. This means they have the chance to contribute to society, and gain
employment or more education. The long-term goal of all supervision orders is
always successful rehabilitation and a safer community.