About Alton Mental Health Center – Alton
Alton Mental Health Center in Alton, Illinois, is a state run facility that has been in operation for over a century. It used to be a mental health center for children, youth, adults and seniors. It is now a forensic facility for men and women who have committed a crime and are struggling with mental illness and have intellectual disabilities. There are minimum and medium security units which are both secure units.
The main differences between the two units are the levels of crimes the individual was associated with and the security measures and privileges allotted to patients. Residents in the minimum security unit are forensic patients that committed a nonviolent crime and have a low probability of running. They must be placed there with the approval of the courts.
Medium security also has extra precautions such as security screens, controlled access and removal of prohibited personal items. Residents have fenced recreation areas and do not have access to the grounds like minimum security offers. Medium security individuals will need the court’s approval for any changes in their privileges. These rules apply to those who were found by the courts to be not guilty by reason of insanity or unfit to stand trial.
Patient’s unit location is decided by a placement evaluation. This assessment will help decide which unit is the most appropriate for the patient’s situation, mental health, and intellectual understanding. When patients are deemed safe and the courts agree to discharge them, they are given outpatient treatment and community resources to try to make any reintegration into the community as smooth and successful as possible.
Gallery
