A high proportion of people within the criminal justice system have mental health problems. A recent study found that about 20% of men and 40% of women in prison had received help for an emotional or mental problem in the 12 months before they were sent to prison.

This is for several reasons. People whose behaviour is ‘different’ are more likely to attract police attention and thus be arrested. Also, people who have difficulty maintaining a stable lifestyle – particularly those who are homeless – may be at greater risk of committing relatively minor offences to obtain food and shelter. Many people believe that people with mental health problems are particularly likely to be violent and a risk to others, but this is not supported by the available data.

Once they arrive in prison, many people with mental health problems are detained with no specialist care, support or treatment.

Our Mental Health Unit plays a key role in our overarching aim to create a safer, more inclusive society. We believe that prison is not an appropriate environment for most mentally disordered offenders, and that where compulsory detention is necessary, this should usually be in a psychiatric hospital or special secure unit – not a prison.

We seek to improve responses to defendants and offenders with mental health issues by promoting the need for care and treatment, not punishment. Our work focuses on developing effective policy and practice. We provide professionals working in the criminal justice, health and social care sectors with:

• research and data
• information and advice
• support with policy development, through our training and consultancy services
• comprehensive events listings
• the latest news, with free email updates