American Military University’s Post

Prisons are high on the political agenda and there are many problems. Three areas in particular that I would like to see change in following on from my experiences completing expert witness work are: 1. The over-representation of black, asian and ethnic minority communities. 2. Reducing the harm caused to children who have parents in prison. 3. Addressing the high rates of mental health problems in prisoners. Below are links to 3 key documents that pertain to each of these issues and are useful for any professional having contact with prisons. 1.The Lammy Review (2017) A key finding was that, at the time, 25% of the adult UK prison population were from black, asian and ethnic minority communities (over 40% for youth offending institutions) despite only representing 14% of the population. https://lnkd.in/dR5HbURF 2. The effects of parental imprisonment on children The research of Murray and Farrington (2008) highlighted the serious impact imprisoning parents has on most children. https://lnkd.in/dNBgEhRf 3. The Bradley Review (2009) This highlighted the extremely high rates of serious mental health and other issues such as substance misuse an learning disabilities amongst prison populations (particularly those on remand) and examined ways to divert individuals from prisons. https://lnkd.in/dhMZW2YZ Should you wish to make an enquiry for a psychological assessment please call 01707 594 001 or email [email protected]. #prisons #crime #criminallaw #parentalimprisonment #psychology #legalaid #expertwitness

“We're calling on the new Government to make a new start for mental health. And given the urgency of the situation in prisons today, the justice system is a crucial place for that action to begin now.” - Andy Bell We're pleased to see the appointment of James Timpson as minister of state for prisons, parole and probation. Prison reform is long overdue. Too many prisons are overcrowded and unsafe. And too many people leave prison with inadequate help for their mental health. Justice reform must mean comprehensive reform of the Mental Health Act, including a 28-day limit on transfers from prison to a hospital bed. Too many people wait too long for urgent treatment in a system that is antiquated and unfair. https://lnkd.in/ebzESzwE #Prisons #PrisonMentalHealth #PrisonReform #MentalHealthAct #MentalHealthActReform #NewGovernment

We are concerned about the #HumanRights issues facing #Prisons in #Scotland 👇 The Commission is focusing on this as an area of special interest in 2023-2024, including looking into provisions for mental health support in Scottish prisons and other places of detention. https://lnkd.in/eKfh8Wxd

A new report by User Voice shines a light on the challenges neurodiverse people face in the criminal justice system and the types of support that can make a real difference. HMP Pentonville’s neurodiverse wing, which was founded in part by Unlocked Graduates participants, is highlighted as a success story in good practice. 🌟 Key examples of best practice in prisons: - More prison staff with lived experience of neurodiversity - Peer support activities (group sessions, listeners, champions) - Single cells where possible - One-to-one accessible learning opportunities - More physical activities Head to Russell Webster for further insights and recommendations for tailored support: https://lnkd.in/e88nMhUV #Neurodiversity #CriminalJusticeReform #NeurodivergentVoices #PrisonReform

Keir Starmer has proposed building more prisons to deal with the problem of overcrowding. Really? that's your answer? Rather than focusing on building more prisons, efforts should be directed towards prevention and addressing the factors that lead to criminal behavior. One significant area to look at is the school-to-prison pathway. Many young people who are expelled from school often end up getting involved in criminal activities. Research has shown that expelled children are more likely to turn to crime as they struggle with a lack of support and opportunities. Each year, thousands of children are expelled from schools in the UK. For instance, in the 2019-2020 academic year, there were around 5,000 permanent exclusions. Without proper intervention, many of these young people may end up in the criminal justice system. Programs aimed at keeping at-risk youth in school and providing them with the necessary support can significantly reduce the likelihood of them turning to crime. Another critical issue is the situation faced by prisoners upon their release. In the past year, thousands of people have been released from prison in the UK only to find themselves homeless and without support. Studies have shown that nearly one-third of people released from prison end up homeless. Without a stable place to live, many resort to crime again simply to survive, perpetuating a cycle of incarceration. Building more prisons doesn't solve anything, focus on prevention strategies, such as improving education, providing mental health support, and offering rehabilitation programs, can address the root causes of crime. Additionally, supporting people released from prison by ensuring they have housing and employment opportunities can help reduce recidivism rates. https://lnkd.in/dM4wZ9JG #CriminalJusticeReform #EducationMatters #PreventCrime #SchoolToPrisonPipeline #SupportExOffenders #ReduceRecidivism #PrisonOvercrowding #SocialJustice #MentalHealthSupport #YouthIntervention #HomelessnessCrisis #CommunitySupport #JusticeForAll #UKPolicy #FutureOfJustice #BreakingTheCycle #Rehabilitation #EndHomelessness #PrisonReform #InvestInPrevention

Local jails and prisons are becoming the new mental health facilities, and it's not okay. Individuals with severe mental health diagnoses are being incarcerated because there is no other place for them to go. This is a concerning issue that needs to be addressed. In Westmoreland County, individuals who need higher level care are not being admitted to the hospital if they have pending charges. This leaves them with no other option but to end up in jail. It's time for reform of the mental health system and for education of those making decisions within the criminal justice system. #mentalhealthawareness #criminaljusticereform #criminaljustice #corrections

“Trans-institutionalization” refers to the shift of seriously mentally ill adults from the care of psychiatric institutions to correctional institutions. Beginning in the 1950s, public mental health agencies have pursued the deinstitutionalization of the seriously mentally ill. These government agencies intended to meet that goal through creating a system of community-based care to replace the asylum-based systems. Deinstitutionalization did not succeed as planned. Consequently, jails and prisons became the custodians of hundreds of thousands of seriously mentally ill adults who in previous eras would have been committed to an asylum. https://buff.ly/3TOWWHQ #expertwitness #mentalhealthprofessionals #consultants

"In prisons and probation, we have now recruited more than 100 Neurodiversity Support Managers (NSMs), which means we are ahead of schedule to have one NSM in every prison in the adult estate by 2024. We have already seen the considerable positive impact these roles are having in prisons across the estate, for example: • introducing ‘Neurodiversity Rep’ jobs within some prisons, a paid role undertaken by neurodivergent prisoners to raise awareness of the support available; • working in partnership with the prison and mental health provider to create a space in the prison that focuses on the sensory and mental health requirements for prisoners with complex needs; • producing Easy-Read versions of key prison documents, including a Prison Induction Handbook for prisoners with low literacy; and • embedding neurodiversity training into the staff induction process to ensure every new member of staff is knowledgeable and able to provide the right support. 👏👏👏👏💙

2024 marks ten years since Catch22 published its highly acclaimed research on the impact of gangs and violence in prisons. In today's blog Miranda Shanks, Policy and Communications Manager for Justice & Education, explores what we know about violence in prison and what needs to happen in the next ten years. Read it here: https://ow.ly/FOWP50RmVsH

The substantial increase in prison investments raises crucial questions regarding its efficacy and the wider consequences for society, the economy, and the criminal justice system. Currently, 57% of the jail population is classified as having mental illnesses, and taxpayer dollars are being used to pay a hefty $636,000 per day ($232 million annually) to incarcerate individuals with mental health issues. In response to these concerns, the SBLM-designed Miami Center for Mental Health and Recovery aims to tackle these issues by establishing a centralized continuum of care for individuals with serious mental illnesses. Previous jail diversion program outcomes have shown recidivism rates among participants decreased roughly from 75% to 20% annually. In short, the Miami Center for Mental Health and Recovery's approach diverts them from the Criminal Justice System to a facility where they can receive proper care and treatment and reduce taxpayer dollars invested in prisons: https://lnkd.in/eizf5wRi #prison #reform #Miami #mentalhealth #NYC #diversion #center #SBLM