More than 90% of prisoners have one or more mental health disorders, and it has been found that most prison systems are ill-equipped to provide appropriate mental healthcare. This article describes a pilot study that aimed to increase magistrates’ awareness of mental health and learning disabilities in court, the use of appropriate community sentences, mental health treatment requirements and community options for vulnerable defendants.
A team made up of staff from a vulnerable persons focus group and nurses from Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust liaison and diversion team presented awareness-raising sessions to magistrates and other court staff during lunch breaks at four courts in Northamptonshire. After the sessions, participants said they were better informed and more likely to use appropriate community sentences including mental health treatment requirements and community options. It is hoped that the sessions will help to reduce the number of vulnerable people being sent to prison in Northamptonshire and instead they will be given more appropriate sentences along with the treatment and support they may need.
Mental Health Practice. 20, 4, 19-23. doi: 10.7748/mhp.2016.e1140
Correspondence Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Conflict of interestNone declared
Received: 24 November 2015
Accepted: 29 February 2016
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