Jail-Based Competency Restoration Services in the United States: The Need, the Controversy, the Impact of COVID-19, and Implications for Future Treatment Delivery

Melvin Pagan, Psy.D.; Jail-based competency restoration largely emerged as a method to address the backlog at forensic hospitals around the United States, as the number of justice-involved persons in need of restoration outgrew available beds. Jail-based competency restoration units (JBCRUs) appear to be highly effective and cost-saving. However, after the COVID-19 outbreak, services at some JBCRUs were stalled, as providers were forced to either quickly initiate or ramp up technology use to maintain services.

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