Offenders with Mental Illness in Prison

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah M. Manchak ◽  
Robert D. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Mentally Disordered Offenders ◽  
Prison Management ◽  
Mentally Disordered ◽  
Prison Environment ◽  
Offenders With Mental Illness

This essay describes trends in the number of mentally disordered offenders in prison and the unique challenges posed by them in terms of prison management and service delivery. The essay first explores why persons with mental illnesses are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, then discusses efforts to rehabilitate this population should not take place within the prison environment (and, if they do, what changes in current practices are necessary to adapt to the prison setting). How the challenges posed by mentally ill inmates are managed is also covered, with critical discussions of these strategies. Finally, an analysis of the changes that are needed to improve conditions for inmates with mental illness in prisons is presented, with a description of one promising program for treating these offenders. Suggestions for future research with this population that will help inform and improve prison conditions for offenders with mental illness are also provided.

scholarly journals An integrated service for mentally disordered offenders

1992 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. 773-775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sube Banerjee ◽  
Tim Exworthy ◽  
Kiki O'Neill-Byrne ◽  
Janet Parrott
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Mentally Disordered Offenders ◽  
Mentally Disordered ◽  
Community Ties ◽  
The Right ◽  
Integrated Service

In recent years there has been increasing concern about the plight of the mentally ill in prisons, particularly those on remand. The 1976 Bail Act gives everyone the right to unconditional bail but mentally disordered offenders find themselves disadvantaged in that their right to bail can be set aside not only because of the gravity of the alleged offence but also for reasons consequent to their mental illness. These include lack of community ties, their own protection or most commonly for the preparation of psychiatric reports. The mentally disordered may thus be remanded in custody even if the charge against them is minor or not punishable by imprisonment.

The Entry of Mentally Disordered People to the Criminal Justice System

1996 ◽  
Vol 169 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Robertson ◽  
Richard Pearson ◽  
Robert Gibb
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Criminal Justice ◽  
Criminal Justice System ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Psychiatric Care ◽  
Mentally Disordered ◽  
Police Station ◽  
Court Liaison ◽  
Do So

BackgroundThe police are the gatekeepers to the criminal justice system (CJS). It is agreed that where possible mentally ill people should be diverted to psychiatric care. The purpose of this investigation was to determine what factors were associated with the entry of obviously mentally ill people into the CJS.MethodThe population of all detainees arrested in seven London police stations was observed to determine the presence of obvious mental illness. All detainees regarded as ill or known to have significant psychiatric histories were followed through the CJS to court disposal. Defendants diagnosed as psychotic by court liaison psychiatrists were identified and the circumstances of their arrest and detention examined.ResultsOf all police detainees observed, 1.4% were found to be acutely ill. Diversion of obviously ill detainees was common practice. The factor most strongly associated with entry to the CJS was the presence of violence at time of arrest. Other factors were the persistence of (petty) offending and the operation of court warrants issued as a result of the person's failure to appear at court when required to do so.ConclusionsBoth police and courts are well aware of the inappropriateness of custody for acutely ill people and efforts are made to divert such people out of the CJS. Persistent petty offenders are often being recycled from the street to police station to court and back to the street without the benefit of care. A dedicated facility is recommended in central London to meet this need.

Arrest Patterns among Mentally Disordered Offenders

1988 ◽  
Vol 153 (3) ◽  
pp. 313-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Mentally Ill Offenders ◽  
Mentally Disordered Offenders ◽  
Mentally Disordered ◽  
Unknown Factor ◽  
Schizophrenic Group ◽  
The Relationship

One unknown factor in the link between crime and mental illness is whether or not mentally ill offenders are more liable than others to arrest. Ninety-one mentally ill, and 76 normal, criminally offending men were asked about the circumstances of their offence and arrest. A majority of mentally ill men had been arrested at the scene of the crime, and more than a quarter of the schizophrenic group had reported themselves to the police. We argue that when many offenders are either unreported or undetected, the increased vulnerability of the mentally ill to detection and arrest makes them disproportionately liable to detection. Attempting to assess the relationship between crime and mental illness is thus extremely difficult.

scholarly journals Mildly mentally handicapped offenders: an alternative to custody

1993 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 199-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Johnson ◽  
Jeanette Smith ◽  
Geoff Stainer ◽  
Martin Donovan
Keyword(s):  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Justice System ◽  
Psychiatric Treatment ◽  
Penal System ◽  
Mentally Disordered Offenders ◽  
Mentally Handicapped ◽  
Home Office ◽  
Mentally Disordered ◽  
Medium Security ◽  
Special Hospitals

Concern is increasingly being expressed about the lack of provision for mentally disordered offenders, who by default end up within the penal system. Gunn et al (1991) in a study of sentenced prisoners identified a significant number who were mentally disordered to be in need of psychiatric treatment. Among these, 0.4% were considered to be mentally handicapped. Recent reports have emphasised the importance of diverting these individuals from the criminal justice system (Woolf & Tumin, 1991; Home Office, 1990; British Medical Association, 1990). However, the majority of such offenders do not fulfil the criteria for admission to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983. Most are not overtly mentally ill and do not require treatment in conditions of medium security such as exist in regional secure units. However, it is not clear what provision there should be for such individuals. Smith (1988) described an open forensic unit for mildly mentally handicapped offenders (the Leander Unit). She concluded that there was a need for a specialised service to cater for these patients, who were neither appropriately nor adequately provided for by the general psychiatric services, the mentally handicapped services, regional secure units or special hospitals. Unfortunately, in practice there are very few facilities for this group of patients.

Is There a Need for Elderly Forensic Psychiatric Services?

2005 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 154-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
I O Nnatu ◽  
F Mahomed ◽  
A Shah
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Old Age ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Mentally Disordered Offenders ◽  
Mentally Disordered ◽  
Court Diversion ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Old Age Psychiatry ◽  
Forensic Psychiatric ◽  
Developed Nations

The population of the elderly in most developed nations is on the increase. Furthermore, the prevalence of mental disorder amongst elderly offenders is high. The true extent of `elderly' crime is unknown because much of it goes undetected and unreported. This leads to a failure to detect mental illness in such offenders. Court diversion schemes may improve recognition of mental illness but these schemes usually tend to deal with the more severe crimes. This may result in an overestimation of the amount of serious crime committed by the elderly and a failure to detect mental illness amongst those who commit less serious crimes. Efforts to service this hidden morbidity call for multi-agency collaboration. Improved detection and reporting of crimes is essential if mental health difficulties in the elderly are not to go unnoticed. The needs of elderly mentally-disordered offenders are complex and fall within the expertise of old age and forensic psychiatry, without being adequately met by either one. Therefore, consideration should be given to the development of a tertiary specialist forensic old-age psychiatry service.

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