Once the patient has been identified and referred, and treatment started, your job is done until release. For misdemeanor offenders in local detention, this could take place within days or a few weeks, or even the day of arrest if the patient is able to make bail. Following the steps I’ve recommended to ensure continuity of care will help your patient return to you in at least as good a condition as when he came in.
Dr. Hanson is a forensic psychiatrist and coauthor of "Shrink Rap: Three Psychiatrists Explain Their Work" (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2011). The opinions expressed are those of the author only, and do not represent those of any of Dr. Hanson’s employers or consultees, including the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene or the Maryland Division of Correction.