ABSTRACT
Risk assessment and management in forensic mental health services, although often portrayed as a purely technical exercise, in practice involve careful negotiation of competing values. These competing values are manifest at the boundaries between patient, service and society. This chapter will focus on the dilemmas posed at these boundaries, with a focus on those posed by the implementation of graduated ‘community leave’ programs from high-secure institutions. It will be argued that Recovery focused care within the forensic paradigm will require a robust and honest debate, involving the general public who fund services as well as professionals and service users.
