NCJ Number
136423
Editor(s)
R Walmsley
Date Published
1991
Length
149 pages
Annotation
Parkhurst Special Unit was created by the British Home Office in 1985 as one of several specialized correctional units; this one houses persistently troublesome prisoners with a history of mental disturbances. The unit regime features specialist psychiatric and psychological treatment for inmates, a moderate degree of structure, a high degree of staff involvement with inmates, and some opportunities for prisoners to pursue behavior modification programs.
Abstract
This report consists of three papers focusing on different aspects of the Parkhurst unit's first 2 years. The descriptive report was written by the senior psychologist in the unit at the time; she outlines the aims of the unit, the allocation process, and the general inmate profile. Most of those selected were dispersal prisoners serving long sentences for violent offenses. The report discusses the behavior of inmates on the unit as compared to their prior behavior problems, the unit and its facilities, the unit routine and regime, treatment issues, and staff issues. The psychiatric study included in this volume is based on data collected from interviews with 23 of the 28 men sent to Parkhurst during the reporting period. Three prominent psychological features were common among these inmates: extreme suspiciousness; long-term irritability; and bouts of mounting tension, irritability, and dysphoria leading to aggression. The final paper is an evaluation, covering the unit's management and organization, events that occurred and how they were handled, and the training and treatment of inmates.