Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center

Kirby Forensic Psychiatry Center
New York State Office of Mental Health
The Wards Island psychiatric complex. Kirby occupies one of the three buildings.
Map
Geography
LocationNew York City, New York, United States
Organization
FundingPublic hospital
TypeSpecialist
Services
Beds>200
SpecialityPsychiatric hospital
Links
Websiteomh.ny.gov/omhweb/facilities/krpc/
ListsHospitals in New York State

Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center is a maximum-security facility for the mentally ill on Wards Island in New York City,[1] operated by the New York State Office of Mental Health as one of two psychiatric hospitals in the state that treat felony patients.[2] The building, described as "fortresslike", is adjacent to the Manhattan Psychiatric Center.[3] Of its more than 200 patients, 50 are deemed criminally insane; it houses pre-trial detainees unfit to stand trial as well as convicted defendants granted an insanity plea. Among its famous historical inmates was murderer and cannibal Daniel Rakowitz.[3]

  1. ^ "Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center". New York State Office of Mental Health. Archived from the original on 6 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  2. ^ Hattem, Ben (27 July 2015). "How New York's mentally ill get lost in courts, jails and hospitals". Al Jazeera America. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference NYT2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).