Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-xxrs7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-27T06:04:28.568Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Diversion from Custody. II: Effect on Hospital and Prison Resources

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Philip L. A. Joseph*
Affiliation:
Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF
Mark Potter
Affiliation:
Springfield Hospital, Glenburnie Road, London SW17
*
Correspondence

Abstract

Two hundred and one referrals to a psychiatric assessment scheme based at two inner-London magistrates' courts were followed up to assess the effect of the scheme on hospital and prison resources. Of the 65 hospital admissions, 50 (77%) derived some or marked benefit from psychiatric treatment. Those who did badly were more likely to be of no fixed abode, and had higher rates of criminality and previous compulsory admission to hospital. Absconding was the largest management problem; 30 (46%) of those admitted did so. Twelve months after admission, all patients except one had been discharged; 10 (15%) had been readmitted to hospital. The scheme generated an extra 21 (64%) hospital admissions per annum from the two courts, compared with the three years before its introduction. The saving in remand time to the prison was approximately double the increased admission time to hospital. However, the overall effect of early diversion on hospital and prison resources was small.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bowden, P. (1978) Men remanded into custody for medical reports: I - The selection for treatment. II - The outcome of the treatment recommendation. British Journal of Psychiatry, 132, 320331.Google Scholar
Coid, J. (1988) Mentally abnormal prisoners on remand: I - Rejected or accepted by the NHS. II - Comparison of services provided by Oxford and Wessex regions. British Medical Journal, 296, 17791784.Google Scholar
Cooke, D. J. (1991) Treatment as an alternative to prosecution: offenders diverted for treatment. British Journal of Psychiatry, 158, 785791.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dell, S., Grounds, A., James, K., et al (1991) Mentally disordered remand prisoners. Unpublished report to the Home Office. Department of Health and Social Security (1962—90) Health and Personal Social Services Statistics for England (With Summary Tables for Great Britain), Annual Reports. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Department of Health and Social Security (1986) Mental Health Statistics for England: Booklet 11. London: Government Statistical Service.Google Scholar
Desland, M. & Batey, R. (1990) Criminality of heroin users presenting to an Australian hospital-based drug and alcohol unit. British Journal of Addiction, 85, 795801.Google Scholar
Endicott, J., Spitzer, R. L., Fleis, J., et al (1976) The Global Assessment Scale: a procedure for measuring overall severity of psychiatric disturbance. Archives of General Psychiatry, 33, 766771.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fahy, T. (1989) The police as a referral agency for psychiatric emergencies - a review. Medicine Science and the Law, 29, 315322.Google Scholar
George, H. (1972) A Study of Police Admissions to Psychiatric Hospitals. MD thesis, University of London.Google Scholar
Gibbens, T., Soothill, K. & Pope, P. (1977) Medical Remands in the Criminal Court. Maudsley Monograph No. 25. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Herridge, C. (1989) Treatment of psychotic patients in prison. Psychiatric Bulletin, 13, 200201.Google Scholar
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (1990) H.M. Prison Brixton. London: Home Office.Google Scholar
Home Office (1962—90) Prison Statistics, England and Wales, Annual Reports. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Home Office (1970—89) Annual Reports on the Work of the Prison Service. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Home Office (1989a) Criminal Statistics for England and Wales, Supplementary Tables, Vol. 5. London: Government Statistical Service.Google Scholar
Home Office (1989b) Bail Accommodation and Secure Bail Hostels, A Consultative Paper. London: Home Office.Google Scholar
Home Office (1990) Provision for Mentally Disordered Offenders, Circular 66/90. London: Home Office.Google Scholar
Home Office (1991) Prison Disturbances April 1990: Report of an Inquiry, cm 1456. London: HMSO.Google Scholar
Joseph, P. & Potter, M. (1990) Mentally disordered homeless offenders - diversion from custody. Health Trends, 2, 5153.Google Scholar
Keilitz, I. (1989) Mental health services to the courts: a system isolated from judicial administration. In Criminal Court Consultation (eds Rosner, R. & Harmon, R.). New York: Plenum Press.Google Scholar
Overall, J. E. & Gorham, D. R. (1962) The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Psychological Reports, 10, 799812.Google Scholar
Pokorny, A. D., Miller, B. A. & Kaplan, H. B. (1972) The Brief MAST: a shortened version of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test. American Journal of Psychiatry, 129, 342345.Google Scholar
Stone, C. E. (1988) Bail Information for the Crown Prosecution Service (vol. 1 of the final report on the probation initiative “diversion from custody and prosecution”). New York: Vera Institute of Justice.Google Scholar
Stone, C. E. (1989) Public Interest Case Assessment (vol. 2 of the final report on the probation initiative “diversion from custody and prosecution”). New York: Vera Institute of Justice.Google Scholar
Szmukler, G., Bird, A. & Button, E. (1981) Compulsory admissions in a London borough: I Social and clinical features and a follow-up. Psychological Medicine, 11, 617636.Google Scholar
Weller, M. (1989) Mental illness - who cares? Nature, 339, 249252.Google Scholar
World Health Organization (1978) Mental Disorders: Glossary and Guide to their Classification in Accordance with the Ninth Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9). Geneva: WHO.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.