Who are offenders with special needs and what kind of treatment do they need? Offering a unique multi-disciplinary look at mental health services in the correctional field, this book comprehensively examines the field, exploring the history, rights, standards, and treatment in mental health corrections. Loaded with practical information, the book covers what works in the treatment of offenders with special needs, identifies concerns regarding release planning and aftercare, and faces the realities associated with the logistics of prison systems and community settings.

By emphasizing the biological, psychological, and social needs of offenders, this book promotes the development of rehabilitative models for this population based on firm scientific information—not on prejudice or misinformation. This groundbreaking work is an essential resource for those involved with the corrections field, from administrators, attorneys, caseworkers, and criminologists to psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and sociologists.