Individual research recommendation details

Recommendation ID

NG66/5

Question

Prevalence of mental health problems:- What is the prevalence of mental health problems and associated social problems for those in contact with the criminal justice system?

Any explanatory notes
(if applicable)

Why this is important:- It is widely recognised that the people in contact with the criminal justice system have a high prevalence of a whole range of mental health problems and associated problems including unstable housing, long-standing unemployment, a lack of supportive social networks and debt. What is not clear, however, is how the mental and social functioning of this group of people has changed since the last major epidemiological study in the late 1990s. In order to plan for the effective mental health care of people in the criminal justice system, it is important to have a greater understanding of the prevalence of mental health problems and social functioning of this group of people. There are a number of factors which have changed since the last epidemiological study; these include a larger prison population, changing patterns of substance misuse, an aging prison population, changes in probation practice and sentencing policy as well as broader changes in society such as
changes in mental health care and social care practice. A series of epidemiological studies of representative criminal justice system populations should be undertaken to address the above problems.

Source guidance details

Comes from guidance

Mental health of adults in contact with the criminal justice system

Number

NG66

Date issued

March 2017

Other details