News

Ed. by Gary Chaimowitz, Mini Mamak, Heather Moulden and Drew Kingston

December 2025. It is available: DOI: 10.4324/9781003376248-14

About this book:

“Forensic psychiatry thrives on connection across jurisdictions. This volume reflects that spirit by bringing together diverse perspectives and highlighting the structural, legal, and ethical complexities that shape forensic mental health  systems worldwide. It will be a valuable resource for those working to build  services that are responsive, equitable, and evidence-informed.”

Prof. Sandy Simpson, Research Chair in Forensic Psychiatry and Senior Scientist at Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH), Canada

“Global Perspectives in Forensic Psychiatry offers a rare opportunity to reflect  on how forensic psychiatry is shaped in different countries, through policy  decisions, clinical demands, and shifting ideas of risk and responsibility. With  a strong focus on systems and context, it will be useful to those working in  research, service delivery, and program development.”

Dr. Nathan J. Kolla, Professor of Forensic Psychiatry, Centre for Forensic Behavioural Science, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia

“This book reflects the kind of international exchange we need more of in forensic psychiatry. By exploring how different jurisdictions address complex  clinical and legal issues, it offers practical insight for those leading and reforming  services worldwide.”

Dr. Carlos Hugo Isaac Serna, Secretary of the Forensic Psychiatry Section, World Psychiatric Association

The Path Forward

Preface

Forensic psychiatry is inherently tied to the legal system. Because legal systems are culturally specific, forensic psychiatry will always be shaped by the  broader societal context in which it is practised. This book will not offer a simple  or singular solution to the challenges of international forensic psychiatry, but  it will offer a framework for understanding the complex relationship between  law, psychiatry, and society. By gathering insights from forensic psychiatrists, researchers, and policymakers around the world, we hope to lay the groundwork for future research and collaboration. The path forward is clear: before we can compare systems, before we can  conduct truly international research, we must first come to a deeper understanding of how forensic psychiatry systems are structured, practised, and experienced around the globe. A patient in forensic psychiatry is not the same in each country; in fact, the similarities may be few in many countries. This book is the first step in what we hope will be a longer journey toward more informed, more globally relevant research and better, more compassionate care for individuals at the intersection of mental health and the criminal justice system.  This exploration is the beginning of a much-needed global conversation about the future of forensic psychiatry.

Gary Chaimowitz, MB ChB, FRCPC, MBA, Canada