| Subject: | Mental health |
| Topic: | Mental health and criminal justice |
| Year: | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 |
An article examined new guidance to police officers on how to respond to people with learning disabilities and mental illnesses.
Source: Robin Mackenzie and John Watts, 'Missing a beat: police responses to people with learning disabilities and mental health problems', Tizard Learning Disability Review, Volume 15 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Nov
A briefing paper said that the government's promise of a 'rehabilitation revolution' depended on prisons and probation services building better links with local employers and placing offenders into real jobs. It set out five elements of effective practice in securing employment for offenders.
Source: Beyond the Gate: Securing employment for offenders with mental health problems, Centre for Mental Health
Links: Paper | CMH press release
Date: 2010-Nov
An official advisory body began consultation on new rules to determine who was fit or unfit to stand trial. It said that the way 'unfitness' was defined was out of date, and that the way the courts dealt with people who were unfit failed to achieve just outcomes. The 'unfitness to plead' procedure should be brought it into line with modern psychiatric thinking: the focus should be on whether an accused person could play a meaningful and effective part in the trial, and make relevant decisions about their defence.
Source: Unfitness to Plead: A consultation paper, LC197, Law Commission
Links: Consultation document | Morning Star report
Date: 2010-Oct
A report examined what had been achieved in prison mental health in England over recent years from a number of different personal perspectives. It looked at the specific achievements of 'inreach' teams and of efforts to divert offenders from custody. It also looked at the treatment of offenders with mental health problems outside as well as inside prison.
Source: Louis Appleby, Paula May, Calum Meiklejohn, Kimmett Edgar and Ian Cummins, Prison Mental Health: Vision and Reality, Centre for Mental Health/Nacro/Royal College of Nursing
Links: Report | RCN press release
Date: 2010-Sep
A new book examined the nature of the relationship between mental disorder and crime.
Source: Jill Peay, Mental Health and Crime, Routledge
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-Sep
A report said that 1 woman prisoner in 4 struggled with borderline personality disorder – yet their needs were going unnoticed within the justice system.
Source: Matt Fossey and Georgia Black, Under the Radar: Women with borderline personality disorder in prison, Centre for Mental Health
Links: Report | CMH press release | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Sep
A study found that most of the relationship between violent crime and serious mental illness could be explained by alcohol and substance abuse.
Source: Seena Fazel, Paul Lichtenstein, Martin Grann, Guy Goodwin and Niklas Langstr m, 'Bipolar disorder and violent crime: new evidence from population-based longitudinal studies and systematic review', Archives of General Psychiatry, Volume 67 Number 9
Links: Abstract | Oxford University press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Nursing Times report
Date: 2010-Sep
Researchers examined the court experiences of adults with mental health conditions, learning disabilities, or limited mental capacity.
Source: Rosie McLeod, Cassie Philpin, Anna Sweeting, Lucy Joyce and Roger Evans, Court Experience of Adults with Mental Health Conditions, Learning Disabilities and Limited Mental Capacity, Research Reports 8/10-13/10, Ministry of Justice
Links: Reports (links)
Date: 2010-Jul
A new book examined the tension between the rights of individuals detained under criminal/mental health law and the responsibility for public protection, in the area of executive discretion over mentally disordered offenders.
Source: Tessa Boyd-Caine, Protecting the Public? Detention and release of mentally disordered offenders, Willan Publishing
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-Jun