NCJ Number
59854
Journal
Medicine, Science and the Law Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1979) Pages: 111-117
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE EXTENT TO WHICH MENTALLY DISORDERED INMATES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DISRUPTIONS AND MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS IN FOUR MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISONS IN GREAT BRITAIN IS EXPLORED.
Abstract
THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY WAS TO DETERMINE THE VALIDITY OF CLAIMS THAT PRISON DISTURBANCES ARE IN PART THE RESULT OF INCLUDING MENTALLY DISORDERED OFFENDERS IN THE GENERAL PRISON POPULATION RATHER THAN PLACING THEM IN HOSPITALS. THE STUDY, WHICH WAS CARRIED OUT DURING 1972-73, CONCLUDES THAT MENTALLY DISORDERED MEN CONSTITUTE NO MORE (AND PROBABLY LESS) THAN THEIR FAIR SHARE OF ALL INMATES WHO ARE REGARDED AS DISRUPTIVE OR OTHERWISE DIFFICULT. OF 248 MEN IDENTIFIED BY PRISON STAFF AS SOURCES OF MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS, 20 PERCENT HAD HAD SOME KIND OF PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT PRIOR TO SENTENCING, 4.4 PERCENT SHOWED EVIDENCE OF OVERT MENTAL ILLNESS, AND 45 PERCENT WERE DIAGNOSED AS HAVING A PSYCHOPATHIC OR OTHERWISE DISORDERED PERSONALITY. THE VAST MAJORITY (85 PERCENT) OF INMATES PRESENTING MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS SPENT MOST OF THEIR SENTENCES IN THE GENERAL WINGS OF THE FOUR PRISONS, WITH ONLY 3.2 PERCENT TRANSFERED (OR CONSIDERED FOR TRANSFER) TO HOSPITALS. HOWEVER, 15 PERCENT HAD BEEN LOCATED IN PRISON PSYCHIATRIC FACILITIES AT SOME TIME DURING THEIR SENTENCES. THE FINDINGS, TOGETHER WITH THOSE OF OTHER STUDIES, SUGGEST THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MENTAL DISORDER AND DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR IN PRISONS IS COMPLEX AND COMPRISES AT LEAST FOUR DIMENSIONS: THE EXTENT OF MENTAL DISORDER IN THE PRISONS, THE ACTION TAKEN TO DEAL WITH IT, THE WAY THE DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR IS VIEWED BY STAFF, AND THE ETHICAL QUESTIONS INVOLVED. EACH OF THESE DIMENSIONS IS DISCUSSED. CASE STUDIES AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. NO TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)