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Mental health crime, violence and criminal justice


Offending and the criminal justice system
Mental health in prisons

Nationally, prisoners represent about 0.1% of the total population of England (1). In August 2004, London had 7,195 prisoners in the following institutions (2) visit (HM Prison Service statistics page for further information):

  • Belmarsh
  • Brixton
  • Bronzefield
  • Holloway
  • Latchmere House
  • Pentonville
  • Wandsworth
  • Wormwood Scrubs
  • Feltham Young Offender Institution

Evidence consistently shows that mental health problems amongst prisoners is significantly higher than amongst the general population. The results from the 1997 ONS survey on psychiatric morbidity among prisoners found the following (1,3). (Also see Prevalence of mental health problems) and the North East Public Health Observatory).

Personality disorders

  • around 50% of all female prisoners, and 78% and 64% of male remand and sentenced prisoners have a possible personality disorder
  • 5.4% of men and 3.4% of women in the general population are thought to have a personality disorder
  • the most common types of personality disorder in prisons is anti-social personality disorder, and in the general population is obsessive compulsive

Psychotic disorders (includes schizophrenia and manic depression)

  • 21% and 10% of female remand and sentenced prisoners, and 10% and 7% of male remand and sentenced prisoners are thought to have a psychotic disorder
  • schizophrenic or delusional disorders are more common than manic episodes and bipolar affective disorder in prison populations
  • psychotic disorders are over 10 times more prevalent amongst male prison populations than the general male population, and approximately 28 times more prevalent amongst female prison populations than the general female population

Common mental health problems

  • 76% and 63% of female remand and sentenced prisoners, and 59% and 40% of male remand and male sentenced prisoners have a common mental health problem
  • female prisoners are significantly more likely to suffer from a common mental health problem than male prisoners, and remand prisoners are significantly more likely to have a common mental health problem than sentenced prisoners
  • 13.6% of men and 19.5% of women in the general population have common mental health problems

Suicidal thoughts and self-harm

  • 23% of female remand and 8% female sentenced prisoners have had thoughts of suicide in the past week compared with 12% male remand and 4% male sentenced prisoners.
  • 27% of female remand and 16% of female sentenced prisoners have attempted suicide in the last year, compared with 15% of male remand and 7% of male sentenced prisoners.

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References
  1. Singleton N, Meltzer H, Gatward R, Coid J, Deasy D (1998) Psychiatric morbidity among prisoners TSO: London.
  2. Table 9.12 Prison population in the United Kingdom: by prison service region, 30 April 2003 Home Office, Scottish Executive and Northern Ireland Office.
  3. Singleton N, Bumpstead R, O'Brien M, Lee A, Meltzer H (2001) Psychiatric morbidity among adults living in private households, 2000. Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO): London.

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Contacts for further information

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