Chilean justice authorities expand regional services and forensic psychiatry coordination

In Chile, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights is conducting regional initiatives to improve access to legal services and address gaps in the forensic psychiatry system.

At the Universidad de Aysén, the Ministry is hosting a ‘Plaza de Justicia’ at the Lillo campus. This event aims to bring state services directly to students, offering guidance and procedures from agencies including the Civil Registry, the Legal Medical Service, Gendarmerie of Chile, and the Public Defender's Office.

In the Coquimbo Region, the Regional Subcommission of Forensic Psychiatry held a meeting with judicial, health, and justice representatives to address the challenges of provisional hospitalization. The discussion focused on individuals held in custody while awaiting sanitary vacancies for psychiatric evaluation or treatment. Key advancements include the implementation of Preliminary Psychiatric Evaluations (EPP) to provide clinical data to courts and inter-institutional agreements designed to reduce bed occupancy times and expedite hearings.