People who commit serious crimes who are sent to mental health care facilities should receive treatment that aims to rehabilitate them to the point that they can be discharged within 18 months, according to a guideline draft released by the health ministry Thursday.
The move was drafted in guidelines to be used when enforcing a new law for the treatment and monitoring of mentally incapacitated criminal offenders. It is designed to help these people make a speedy return to society, officials at the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said.
The guideline draft was presented to a meeting of people involved in the health and welfare of mental patients. Formal guidelines will be drawn up this summer after hearing opinions of relevant parties, the officials said.