NCJ Number
63069
Date Published
1977
Length
12 pages
Annotation
READ AT THE WORLD CONGRESS OF PSYCHIATRY, THIS PAPER DISCUSSES GROWING DISILLUSIONMENT WITH PRISON PSYCHIATRY, BARRIERS TO TREATMENT WITHIN BRITISH PRISONS, AND SOME EXPERIMENTAL SOLUTIONS.
Abstract
SURVEYS OF PRISON POPULATIONS, WHICH HAVE REPEATEDLY EXPOSED A HIGH INCIDENCE OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER INCLUDING ALCOHOLISM, DRUG DEPENDENCY, SEXUAL MALADJUSTMENT, AND SEVERE PERSONALITY DISORDERS, ARE USED TO SUPPORT DEMANDS FOR MORE PRISON PSYCHIATRY, ADDITIONAL SERVICES, AND A DIVERSION OF OFFENDERS FROM PENAL INSTITUTIONS TO HOSPITAL CARE. ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE IS A GROWING DISILLUSIONMENT WITH PRISON PSYCHIATRY, BASED ON A LACK OF CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT TREATMENT PROJECTS AFFECT SUBSEQUENT RECONVICTION RATES AND ON CLAIMS BY LAWYERS AND SOCIOLOGISTS THAT PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENTS MAY NOT ONLY BE USELESS BUT SOMETIMES DAMAGING. MOREOVER, THERE IS NO PREDICTIVE VALIDITY IN PSYCHIATRIC REPORTS TO COURTS OR PAROLE AUTHORITIES, CUSTODIAL PROCEDURES PRESENT PROBLEMS, AND PRISON OVERCROWDING AND OFFICIAL SECRECY NEGATE EFFECTIVE PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE DELIVERY. PRISON DOCTORS, WHO ARE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, ARE SET APART FROM THEIR MEDICAL COLLEAGUES IN PAY SCALES AND CAREER STRUCTURES, AND THE NEW FORENSIC PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTANTS HAVE LIMITED INFLUENCE. FURTHER, THE SEPARATION OF FUNCTION OF PRISON DOCTOR FROM THE HOSPITAL SERVICE HAMPERS THE EASY TRANSFER OF CLIENTS FROM ONE FACILITY TO ANOTHER. SOME ATTEMPTED SOLUTIONS HAVE INCLUDED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT IN EACH ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF SECURE PSYCHIATRIC UNITS, THE RECOGNIZED USE OF PSYCHIATRY IN LOWERING FRUSTRATION LEVELS, PARTICULARLY OF LONG-TERM PRISONERS, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BARLINNIE UNIT IN SCOTLAND WHICH OPERATES ON THERAPEUTIC PRINCIPLES AND ENCOURAGES DISCUSSION AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED. (AOP)