Psychiatric Security Review Board
At a Glance
ROBERT B. BERGER, ESQ., Chairman
Established – 1985
Statutory Authority – CGS Sec. 17a-581
Central Office –
Number of Employees – four
Recurring operating
expenses - $369,358
Organizational
structure – One
Administrative Unit
Mission
To protect the safety of
Statutory
Responsibility
The Psychiatric Security Review Board (the “Board”), through an administrative hearing process, determines the level of supervision and treatment for an acquittee deemed necessary to protect society. The Board takes jurisdiction over the acquittee and determines the level of confinement and circumstances under which an acquittee can be released into the community. The Board can order confinement in a maximum-security facility, approve temporary leave from a hospital setting, grant conditional release into the community and provide recommendations to the Superior Court in the matters of discharge from the Board and continued commitment.
Public Service
The general public is the beneficiary of the agency's work. During fiscal year 2007-2008, 163 persons
were under the Board's jurisdiction.
Three persons were committed to the Board this fiscal year by the
Superior Court. Fourteen individuals had
their commitment terms extended by the Superior Court. Four individuals had their commitment terms
expire and seven individuals were discharged prior to the end of their
commitment by the Superior Court.
As of June 30, 2008, 152 individuals were committed to the jurisdiction
of the Board as follows: 36 individuals
were confined in maximum-security at Connecticut Valley Hospital, 1 acquittee
was confined in a high security setting at the Department of Developmental
Services, 92 individuals were confined in a secure non-maximum security setting
at Connecticut Valley Hospital, 22 individuals were on conditional release, 1
acquittee was housed in the Connecticut Department of Correction, and 1
acquittee has been AWOL since June 1991.
Of the 152 acquittees committed to the jurisdiction of the Board, 98
percent were ordered confined to the Department of Mental Health &
Addiction Services and 2 percent were ordered confined to the Department of
Developmental Services.
The Board
held 225 hearings and 39 case conferences resulting in 188 Memoranda of
Decision being issued.
During
this fiscal year, there were no arrests for individuals while on conditional
release status. One individual absconded from the grounds of
Improvements/Achievements 2007-08
·
Maintained
zero percent recidivism of conditionally released acquittees, as reflected by
no arrests.
·
Collaborated
with the Department of Information Technology to ensure agency compliance with
Safe Boot technology designed to protect data security on agency computers.
·
Participated
in the Department of Information Technology’s Small Agency Initiative to
deliver IT services in a cost-effective and efficient manner.
·
Collaborated
with the Office of Attorney General, continuing to review and modify the
Board’s Statutes and Regulations, as needed, in order to maintain the integrity
of the Board’s mission.
·
Modified
agency acquittee database to improve data quality, automated additional reports
and implemented state-of-the-art off-site data storage plan.
·
Tailored
agency website to enhance user friendliness and provide additional training
materials.
·
Compiled
statistics and information related to acquittee confinement and movement into
the community.
·
Maintained
administrative meetings with the Commissioner of the Department of Mental
Health & Addiction Services and the Superintendent of
·
Modified
community provider reporting mechanisms to enhance supervision oversight for
conditionally released acquittees.
·
Maintained
regularly scheduled treatment team meetings with community providers and the
Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services regarding all
conditionally released acquittees.
·
Conducted
bimonthly PSRB trainings in partnership with the Department of Mental Health
& Addiction Services and provided on-site statewide PSRB training to a
variety of community providers.
·
Maintained
spending at allocated level.
·
Continued
improvements to the Board’s medical and legal records.
·
Collaborated
with the Department of Development Services to implement a pilot residential plan for a dually diagnosed acquittee in
need of intensive and secure treatment.
Strategic Planning
The Board's strategic plan includes:
·
Continue
partnership with the Department of Information Technology to make quality
improvements to agency acquittee database.
·
Collaborate
with the Office of Attorney General and the Board’s Legislative Liaison to
successfully implement modifications and additions to the Board’s regulations
and statutes as needed.
·
Continue
the Board’s collaborative planning process with the Department of Mental Health
& Addiction Services to address ongoing service systems issues and best
practice protocols.
·
Maintain
outreach to community agencies and the public regarding the Board’s mission of
public safety.
Information Reported as Required by State
Statute
The
Board members for 2007-2008 were Robert Berger, Esq. (Chairman), John Ryan
(expert in parole/probation), Howard Oakes, Psy.D. (psychologist), Justin
Schechter, M.D. (psychiatrist), Sylvia Cancela (member of the general public)
and Susan Blair (victim advocate).
The
Board is assisted by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services in
meeting the Affirmative Action requirements of the statute and follows such
regulations of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.