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Use of the Judicial Section 9 Certification in the Free State
Abstract
A direct referral system for referring persons who perpetrate a crime while suffering from a mental illness has evolved between the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the Free State, and the Free State Psychiatric Complex (FSPC) over the years. The efficiency and impact of this direct referral system have never been quantified. This study found that this alternative system is uncomplicated, functions quite effectively with a minimum of inappropriate referrals, and contributes greatly towards decreasing the workload of the judicial as well as the psychiatric system.