A medico-judicial framework for the rehabilitation of forensic psychiatric patients in Zimbabwe
| Published date | 11 May 2015 |
| Pages | 134-148 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-10-2014-0036 |
| Date | 11 May 2015 |
| Author | VIRGININIA DUBE-MAWEREWERE |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Forensic practice |
A medico-judicial framework for the
rehabilitation of forensic psychiatric
patients in Zimbabwe
Virgininia Dube-Mawerewere
Dr Virgininia Dube-
Mawerewere is a Psychiatric
Nurse Practitioner
at the Health Studies,
University of South Africa,
Pretoria, South Africa and
Department of Mental Health
Education, Ingutsheni Central
Hospital, Bulawayo,
Zimbabwe.
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to develop a medico-judicial framework for rehabilitation of forensic
psychiatric patients in Zimbabwe.
Design/methodology/approach –Grounded theory of the Charmaz (2006, 2014) persuasion was used.
An exploratory qualitative design was utilised. The theoretical framework that was used as a point of
departure was Pierre Bourdieu’s conceptual canon. Participants were purposefully and theoretically
sampled. These included the judiciary, patients, patients’family, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, experts
in forensic psychiatric practice. They were 32 in total.
Findings –The findings reflected a need to realign the dislocation and dissonance between and within the
fields of the prison system, medical system, and the judiciary. The realignment was done by co-constructing
a therapeutic jurisprudent medico-judicial framework for rehabilitation of forensic psychiatric patients in
Zimbabwe with participants who were stakeholders in forensic psychiatric rehabilitation.
Research limitations/implications –The study was focused on male forensic psychiatric patients
rehabilitation and not on female forensic psychiatric patients because there were important variables in
the two groups that were not homogenous. However, it is possible that including females in the study
could have added perspective to the study. This also limits the generalisation of findings beyond the male
forensic psychiatric participants. Services beyond the experience of participants translate to t he notion
that findings cannot be generalised beyond the parameters of the study. Future research and service
evaluation and audit need to be considered. The study findings focused on the “psychiatric”aspect
and did not emphasise the “forensic”aspect of the service delivery service. Future research may need
to feature physical provisions and progression pathways with reference to “forensic”risk reduction as a
parallel goal.
Practical implications –The study calls for the following: Transformation of the medico-judicial
system, adjusting legislation and restructuring of the public service; changing of public attitudes to
enable implementation of the medico-judicial framework; there is need for a step by step process in the
implementation of the framework in which training needs of service staff, social workers, community
leaders and key stakeholders will need to be addressed; the proposed changes presented by the model
will require cultural, financial and infrastructural shifts.
Social implications –There is need for policy makers to re-enfranchise or rebrand forensic psychiatric
rehabilitation services in Zimbabwe. This could positively involve the marketing of forensic psychiatric rehabilitation
to the stakeholders and to the public. This is projected to counter the stigma, disinterest and disillusionment that run
through both professionals and public alike. This will foster a therapeutic jurisprudence that upholds the dignity and
rights of forensic psychiatric patients.
Originality/value –This work is an original contribution to forensic psychiatry in Zimbabwe. Research in
that area is prohibitive because of the complexity of processes that are followed. This research is therefore
ground breaking.
Keywords Forensic psychiatric patients, Judiciary, Medical system, Prison system,
Zimbabwe Mental Health Act, Zimbabwe Prison Act
Paper type Research paper
Received 21 October 2014
Revised 8 February 2015
Accepted 9 February 2015
PAGE134
j
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
j
VOL. 17 NO. 2 2015, pp. 134-148, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794 DOI 10.1108/JFP-10-2014-0036
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