OBJECTIVE: The objective was to review psychiatric involvementin seven prosecutorial workshops on criminal capacity between2004 and 2009. The aim was to evaluate the changing role ofthe psychiatrists in the workshops in order to identify areas inforensic psychiatry where prosecutors have a specific need fortraining, and to identify more suitable methods of training.METHOD: The workshop programmes, copies of presentations,the number of attending prosecutors at each workshop,informal personal notes from the presenters, suggestions frommeetings in preparation for workshops and formatted feedbackreports were reviewed. Information from a total of sevenworkshops was reviewed and interpreted by 2 psychiatrists fromWeskoppies Hospital Forensic Psychiatry Unit (WHFPU).RESULTS: The psychiatrists’ involvement increased over theyears. Problematic topics that were identified include nonpathologicalcriminal incapacity, child psychiatry and thedifferent roles of the psychiatrist and the psychologist in court.Exposure to practical aspects, interactive workshops with casepresentations, discussion groups and audience participationseemed to be the preferred method of training. Attitudesof prosecutors towards psychiatry improved with increasedknowledge and understanding of the field, and overall thetraining was rated as relevant and enriching.CONCLUSION: Psychiatrists can offer valuable training opportunitiesto legal professionals about the major mental illnesses andhow they can affect criminal capacity, but evaluation of thetraining should be an ongoing process to address changingneeds. Training sessions provide an opportunity for reciprocalsensitisation between the different fields. The ultimate goal isto work towards improved association between the criminaljustice and mental health systems.
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