Research Article
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Published Online: 1 January 2014

The ROC Program: Accelerated Restoration of Competency in a Jail Setting

Publication: Journal of Correctional Health Care
Volume 20, Issue Number 1

Abstract

In 29 months of operation, the restoration of competency (ROC) program provided treatment services to 192 incompetent to stand trial patients in a jail setting. The ROC restored competency for 55% of the patients in an average of 57 days compared to the state hospital average of 180 days. The average cost of treatment/restoration per admission was $15,568 compared to the state hospital average of $81,000. The ROC model accelerates needed treatment for mentally ill defendants, cuts demand for costly state hospital forensic beds, and assists jails in better managing inmates with severe psychiatric disorders—yielding major cost savings and improved care. In addition to preventing readmissions and negative behavioral episodes, the ROC improved the broader forensic system by eliminating the state hospital waiting list, accelerating access to psychiatric services, promoting local access for lawyers and family, and gaining stakeholder satisfaction.

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References

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Information

Published In

cover image Journal of Correctional Health Care
Journal of Correctional Health Care
Volume 20Issue Number 1January 2014
Pages: 59 - 69
PubMed: 24226289

History

Published in print: January 2014
Published online: 1 January 2014

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Authors

Affiliations

Kevin Rice
California ROC Program, West Valley Detention Center, Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA
Liberty Healthcare Corporation, Bala Cynwyd, PA, USA
Jerry L. Jennings [email protected]
Liberty Healthcare Corporation, Bala Cynwyd, PA, USA

Notes

Corresponding Author: Jerry L. Jennings, PhD, Liberty Healthcare Corporation, 820 E. City Ave., Suite 820, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004 USA. [email protected]

Declaration of Conflicting Interests

The authors disclosed no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article. For information about JCHC’s disclosure policy, please see the Self-Study Exam.

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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