Legal News

Westcountry researchers have discovered that offenders with mental health problems were not being provided with the care they required.
The study conducted by the Devon based Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry has emphasised the different levels of care being provided to the offenders and that there was a disparity on the care being given to those with addictions, who receive more help, than those with common mental health problems.
The interview with the offenders has revealed that those who were suffering with mental health issues were receiving low level care where as those who were drug addicts were receiving higher levels of specialist services.
Failure to access the health care services by the offenders who were often unaware of the benefits of health care was also adding to the problems of lack of healthcare.
Dr Richard Byng, who led the study, said several offenders with mental health issues did not trust public services or do not want to admit to having a mental health problem.
By just diverting the individuals with mental health needs to the mental health services was not enough but the offenders needed to be taken into confidence under the supervision of prison or probation officers and take steps to improve their health alongside supporting their other needs like housing, employment and relationships needs.
The study suggested that to prevent re-offending a continuous care was needed in the treatment of offenders who needed treatment for mental health problems.
Mental health charities have long been aware of the care many prisoners require.
The research was done with 200 offenders interviewed in order to assess the care they received. It researched care from the perspective of practitioners, looking at the organisations providing support to offenders.