Abstract
Objective. The stages of development offorensic psychiatry centers are presented.
Review. The following topics are reviewed: (1) development and presentation of the first concept which foresaw, e.g., that "a relatively small group of offenders with court sentences of security measures, particularly dangerous and requiring special supervision ... should be hospitalised in another medical facility which has "a setting and staff' capable of safeguarding against the possibility of escape" (1971); (2) acceptance of the concept of a special facility for the aforementioned persons by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare as part of the "Report on the Condition of Psychiatry and Directions for Further Development" (1981); (3) the Ministry of Health decides to adapt three large psychiatric wards for the needs of regional forensic psychiatric centers, located in the North, Central and South parts of the country (1993); (4) the Ministry of Health accepts the "Guidelines for the Rationale for the RFPC Adaptation Project (1993); (5) publication of the Ministry of Health instructions of 26 February 2001 and 10 August 2004 on facilities for the execution of security measures, including regional forensic psychiatry centers.
Conclusions. All three centers are now operating.