The mental health watchdog in Scotland said that the Scottish Prison Service needed to review its health centre facilities to consider the needs of prisoners with mental health problems.

Source: Mental Health of Prisoners: Themed visit report into prison mental health services in Scotland, Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland

Links: Report

Date: 2011-Dec

An article examined key problems for the law in its dealings with those with severe personality disorder. It called for a cautionary adherence to issues of legal principle in preference to the alternatives: namely, the seductive attractions of therapeutic intervention, or the destructive effects of indeterminate containment.

Source: Jill Peay, 'Personality disorder and the law: some awkward questions', Philosophy, Psychiatry, & Psychology, Volume 18 Issue 3

Links: Abstract

Date: 2011-Nov

The coalition government announced (following consultation) that it would introduce a new 'pathway' approach designed to address the complex needs of high-risk offenders with personality disorder. As a result, it would start to decommission the 'dangerous and severe personality disorder pilot sites' in the National Health Service. Interventions and treatment would be provided earlier and in the most suitable locations; additional support would be given to those who had completed programmes; and ongoing supervision would be enhanced.

Source: Response to the Offender Personality Disorder Consultation, Department of Health/Ministry of Justice

Links: Response to consultation | Hansard

Notes: Consultation document (May 2011)

Date: 2011-Oct

A study found that rates of mental ill-health among the probation caseload were very similar to those in the prison population. Much of this poor health was unrecognized and untreated, making rehabilitation more difficult.

Source: Charlie Brooker, Coral Sirdifield, Robert Blizard, Dean Maxwell-Harrison, Diane Tetley, Paul Moran, Graham Pluck, Anne Chafer, David Denney, and Michael Turner, An Investigation into the Prevalence of Mental Health Disorder and Patterns of Health Service Access in a Probation Population, Criminal Justice and Health Research Group (University of Lincoln)

Links: Summary

Date: 2011-Aug

An article examined the development of a strategy for personality-disordered offenders for the Department of Health and National Offender Management Service. There was a need for the two agencies to take joint responsibility for the assessment, treatment, and management of this population of offenders; and to deliver services, where appropriate, through joint operations. A greater focus was required on the early identification of personality-disordered offenders who presented a high risk of serious harm to others, leading to an active pathway of intervention predominantly based on the criminal justice system.

Source: Nick Joseph and Nick Benefield, 'The development of an offender personality disorder strategy', Mental Health Review Journal, Volume 15 Number 4

Links: Abstract

Date: 2011-Jan