Description of Program
The SETT Program provides highly specialized clinical evaluation, treatment, habilitation, security and service planning to people with intellectual disabilities who are committed to the DHMH under the Criminal Procedure Article, Title 3, by the courts for evaluation and/or care and treatment. The SETT Program has two locations, one in Jessup and the other in Sykesville. The Jessup SETT (12 beds) is an evaluation unit and the Sykesville SETT (20 beds) is a longer-term unit for people in need of care and treatment.
The SETT Program consists of four key services including; evaluation, assessment, therapeutic intervention and service planning.
Evaluation
An individual may be committed by the Circuit or District Court to the DHMH for:
- Evaluation to determine Competency to Stand Trial (in a DHMH facility if defendant would be endangered by confinement in a correctional facility); or
- After a finding of incompetent to stand trial and, because of a mental disorder or intellectual disability , a danger to self, others or the property of another; or
- After a finding of not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder or intellectual disability
An evaluation of competency to stand trial may occur in the jail or detention center where the person is detained or in a community-based setting. A defendant may also be evaluated at the Jessup SETT Program.
The Jessup SETT Program unit is an evaluation/assessment unit for court-ordered defendants. Requests for admission for evaluation of competency to stand trial and/or criminal responsibility must be submitted to the Pre-Trial Evaluation Unit. In addition to a court order, the statement of charges, other pertinent documents (i.e. DHMH screener’s report and medical information) are required. Historical information such as previous evaluation and assessment reports are requested.
Assessment Services
In addition to an evaluation of competency to stand trial, an assessment of dangerousness is essential in order to develop appropriate service and treatment recommendations to the court. A risk assessment is conducted on each person.
Treatment
Therapeutic services are designed to prepare the person for productive community living and to address the issues, which contributed to the person’s commitment. The goal of the SETT program is to promote personal growth and productivity by enhancing each person’s skills and reducing or eliminating challenging or socially unacceptable behaviors. Competency attainment services are provided to each person. The SETT program is committed to enabling each person to exercise the principles of self-determination to the extent possible while ensuring public safety.
Service Planning
The SETT Program team, in collaboration with the DDA regional office and resource coordination, develop a service plan, under certain conditions, to meet the person’s health, habilitation and safety needs. This plan will include recommendations, which may or may not be part of conditions imposed by the court as part of the person’s release. If a person is released with conditions imposed by the court, that person may be re-admitted to a DHMH facility voluntarily or by a court order if the person does not comply with the conditions of the release.
Continuum of Care
The DDA is developing a continuum of care for court-involved people. This includes the Secure Evaluation & Therapeutic Treatment (SETT) and community providers. People presenting with dangerous behaviors that threaten public safety would be housed in the secure unit while individuals presenting with behaviors that do not pose a threat to public safety would remain, if approved by the court, in the community with support and services to meet their needs.
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