Kendra's Law: Final Report on the Status of Assisted Outpatient Treatment
Summary of AOT Proceedings
Referrals/Investigations, Petitions, Court Orders and Service Enhancements
Length of Time in AOT
Reasons for Non-Renewal of Court Orders
Living Situation at Termination of AOT
Referrals/Investigations, Petitions, Court Orders and Service Enhancements
Between November 1999 and December 31, 2004, 10,078 individuals were referred to local AOT coordinators for investigation to determine potential eligibility for an AOT court order. Referrals resulted in petitions filed for the issuance of an AOT court order for 4,041 individuals (40% of all individuals referred); of these, petitions were granted and court orders issued for 3,766 individuals (93% of all individuals with petitions filed). Investigations led to service enhancements rather than court orders for 2,863 individuals (28% of all investigations). Court orders and service enhancements have been issued in all regions of New York State, with 58% of all court orders and service enhancements occurring in New York City. Table 1 summarizes data on outcomes of the judicial procedures associated with AOT.
Table 1 |
|
| Referrals/Investigations | 10, 078 individuals |
| Petitions Filed | 4,041 individuals |
| Petitions Granted | 3,766 individuals |
| Percent of Individuals for whom Petitions were Filed and Granted | 93% |
As noted in Table 1, as of December 31, 2004, 3,766 individuals had received court ordered treatment through AOT. Initial court orders for AOT recipients are generally six months in duration. Court orders, however, can be renewed and recipients may receive additional court orders after previous orders expire. About one third of AOT recipients spend six months under court order. Court orders for most AOT recipients (64%) are renewed and so the majority of individuals remain under court order for more than six months (Table 2). Figure 2 shows the total amount of time spent by recipients in AOT. The average length of time recipients remain under court order is 16 months.
Table 2 |
|
| Court Orders Eligible for Renewal | 3,493 individuals |
| Court Orders Renewed | 2,236 individuals |
| % with Court Orders Renewed | 64% |
| * This number excludes all initial court orders that, as of December 31, 2004, were still in effect (and thus not yet eligible for renewal). | |
Figure 2
Reasons for Non-Renewal of Court Orders
OMH staff also collects information on the reasons for non-renewal of court-orders. The most frequently cited reason is that the individual has improved and is no longer in need of court-ordered services (76%). The next most frequently cited reason is that the individual is hospitalized at the end of the court order and a long stay in the hospital is anticipated (10%).
Living Situation at Termination of AOT
At the time of court order expiration most individuals were living either in independent or supervised community-based settings. Fifty two percent were living in independent settings, alone or with parents, spouses, other relatives, or other persons. Twenty-two percent were living in either assisted/supported living or supervised living settings. Twelve percent were in psychiatric inpatient settings, while three percent were incarcerated at the time their court order expired.
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