Mental Health in Correctional and Criminal Justice Systems (CCJS): Exploring How Diagnosis, Treatment and Cultural Differences Impact Pathway Through the CCJS

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Background

Previous research has indicated a high prevalence of mental disorders among prisoners in many countries across the world. An individual’s route through the criminal justice system may start with arrest by police, continue through the court system, and then time spent in prison or in the community if a community order has been imposed, and end with contact with probation in the community. Some previous research has addressed identifying mental disorders and whether needs for treatment have been met at the various stages through the criminal justice system. The handover of treatment from one stage to the next stage may or may not be successfully undertaken. There has been relatively little research on the effectiveness of interventions for those with a mental disorder while they are progressing through the CCJS or on the outcome when the individual leaves the criminal justice system: will his or her needs for treatment and care be successfully handed over to community-based services? Are there factors such as ethnicity or socio-demographic factors that make a difference to an individual’s progress through the system?

The majority of research so far undertaken has related to prevalence and treatment of mental disorders among prisoners. However such research has been conducted in only a relatively small number of countries and there have been few studies on variations in outcome for different ethnic groups. Therefore, this Research Topic aims to investigate how different ethnic groups influence treatment and whether there are differences in the identification and treatment of specific disorders such as drug or alcohol dependence compared with psychotic or mood disorders and how this differs between countries. Furthermore, we want to explore whether there are approaches to treatment that are particularly tailored to individuals in the criminal justice system and how effective they are. More research is needed to investigate these questions along the criminal justice pathway, not only in prison but including in police custody, in the court system and for those undergoing community orders following a conviction.

We welcome systematic reviews, quantitative and qualitative approaches, including observational studies or case control studies on:
• the extent to which mental disorders are identified at the various stages through the criminal justice system, and the extent to which the needs for treatment are met;
• Potential differences between ethnic groups in different countries concerning the handover of care at the different stages through the criminal justice system including to community services when the individual is finally released from the criminal justice system;
• the impact of the quality of care on the likelihood of recidivism;

Studies may target individuals or staff in any relevant settings along the path through the criminal justice system. Studies which help to illuminate and understand similarities and differences between different service systems in different countries would also be of interest.

Keywords: cultural differences, forensic psychiatry, service systems

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