Problems of Legal Compulsion and Social Work: Certified Psychiatric Social Workers and the Act for the Medical Treatment and Supervision of Insane and Quasi-insane Persons who Cause Serious Harm

HIZAWA Yoshihiko
Abstract:
The present paper examines the role of certified Psychiatric Social Workers (PSW) in relation to the Act for the Medical Treatment and Supervision of Insane and Quasi-insane Persons who Cause Serious Harm (Medical Treatment and Supervision Act). At first, the Japanese Association of Psychiatric Social Workers (JAPSW) had reservations about the Medical Treatment and Supervision Act. But then JAPSW deeply took part in the Medical Treatment and Supervision Act. The reason is that the purpose of the Medical Treatment and Supervision Act is medical treatment for rehabilitation into society. I examine the role of PSW based on the Medical Treatment and Supervision Act in three areas: the perspective of social work, the practice of intervention and community mental health. In conclusion, I present the necessity for flexible practice of intervention based on the perspective of social work.


Keywords: Act for the Medical Treatment and Supervision of Insane and Quasi-insane Persons who Cause Serious Harm, mentally disordered offenders, Psychiatric Social Workers, Rehabilitation into Society Coordinator