Bosnia and Herzegovina - Country in Transition with No Forensic-psychiatric Facilities

Abstract

The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995), the post-war period and the period of transition had significant consequences on the structure of the population, economic and social status, on the mental health and general health of the population, and the organization of medical institutions and mental health services.

On the area of forensic psychiatry, the biggest problem in Bosnia-Herzegovina after the war is the issue of complete lack of capacity for treatment and keeping mentally ill crime committers. Before the war, there existed special institutions (a combination of psychiatry and prison facilities) in the framework of former Yugoslavia. One of such hospital, something like “maximum security hospital” existed in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in territory that belongs to Republic of Srpska after Dayton Agreement. Unfortunately, even 13 years after the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, such institution simply does not exist. This results in formidable fact that crime committers who are mentally ill can not be processed or convicted of classical imprisonment. They are placed in the jurisdiction of Social Services, which is neither organized nor capable of adequate acceptance, follow up and treat these people. In practice, this means that these patients are free out of institution, often without any treatment.