Centre for Mental Health Criminal Justice

Criminal Behaviour Orders must not ‘fast track’ children with mental health problems towards custody

Wed, 23 May 2012 09:00:00 GMT

The Government’s plans to tackle anti-social behaviour need to include clear guidance about how to respond to children and adults with mental health issues and complex needs, argues the Centre for Mental Health.

Diversion is a key element of a more effective approach for young adults in the criminal justice process

Wed, 23 May 2012 09:00:00 GMT

Centre for Mental Health welcomes a new report by The Transition to Adulthood (T2A) Alliance that sets out ten recommendations for a more effective approach for young adults in the criminal justice process, including diversion.

Consortia of leading organisations appointed to support the Government’s Health and Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Programme

Fri, 11 May 2012 09:00:00 GMT

The Offender Health Collaborative will work with local schemes to develop the good practice guidance, quality standards, and workforce requirements as well as reviewing and testing different models of commissioning and provision of liaison and diversion services.

Centre calls for a greater use of the mental health treatment requirement for offenders with mental health problems

Fri, 04 May 2012 09:00:00 GMT

“Despite the fact that we know that as many as a quarter of offenders have a mental illness its disappointing to discover that since its introduction in 2005 the mental health treatment requirement still represents well-under 1 per cent of all requirements issued.”

New report by Civitas: What can we do better to reduce offending by drug addicts?

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:00:00 GMT

This report by the think tank Civitas focuses on the evidence base for what works in drug rehabilitation, with a particular focus on criminal justice issues. It concludes that the evidence does not conclusively support one particular treatment, but suggests that a diverse range of quality treatments are necessary. The report recognises that it is only in a few cases where drug addiction is the primary motivator for crime and that in most cases successful interventions must address multiple needs, including those relating to mental health, housing or access to employment or training. Read the report here.

Centre welcomes commitment from government to fulfil Care not Custody pledge for vulnerable offenders

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:00:00 GMT

Centre for Mental Health today welcomed the Government’s commitment to establish a national liaison and diversion service by 2014, which should make sure that offenders with a mental health problem are offered timely treatment and support.

Community sentence proposals welcome but must be focused on needs of those with mental health conditions or learning disabilities, say charities

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:00:00 GMT

The Government's proposed changes to community sentencing in England and Wales are a welcome move to show that non-custodial sentences can be a more effective to crime than short spells in prison but they must be geared to the evidence of how best to rehabilitate offenders with mental health conditions and those with learning disabilities, say five national organisations today.

Final report of the evaluation of the youth justice liaison and diversion pilot scheme

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:00:00 GMT

The Department of Health has published its final report of an evaluation of the youth justice liaison and diversion pilot scheme. The report notes that there was universal support for making diversion a more systematic or compulsory element within police practice, and makes 11 eleven policy, practice and research recommendations, including integrating diversion scheme with existing services.

DWP release Qualitative study of offender employment review: final report

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 09:00:00 GMT

The DWP's Qualitative study of offender employment review: final report identifies how well key recommendations have been implemented ‘on the ground’ in both custodial and community settings; and assesses the extent to which changes have begun to improve offender employment services.

How the police can improve services for people with a mental illness

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:00:00 GMT

Newly appointed as lead on mental health and disability at the Assocation of Chief Police Officers, Simon Cole, Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary, has written a blog on the challenges faced by police to improve services for those with mental health issues or disabilities.