Center for Forensic Psychiatry

The Center for Forensic Psychiatry (CFP), located in Saline, Michigan, is a specialized facility operated by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Unlike a traditional academic institution, it serves as a highly secure psychiatric hospital that functions as the state’s primary hub for forensic mental health services. The facility is primarily responsible for evaluating individuals involved in the criminal justice system to determine their competency to stand trial and their criminal responsibility, while also providing long-term inpatient psychiatric treatment for those found "not guilty by reason of insanity" or those requiring specialized secure care.

Beyond its role as a treatment and evaluation center, the CFP serves as a critical educational and training site for professionals in the fields of psychiatry, psychology, social work, and nursing. It maintains a strong academic affiliation with institutions like the University of Michigan, offering fellowship programs and clinical rotations that focus on the intersection of law and mental health. Consequently, the "school" component of the center is professional in nature, acting as a teaching hospital where clinicians receive advanced, hands-on training in forensic assessment, risk management, and the legal complexities of psychiatric care.