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Assaults by Mentally Disordered Offenders in Prison: Equity and Equivalence

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Abstract

Managing the violent behaviour of mentally disordered offenders (MDO) is challenging in all jurisdictions. We describe the ethical framework and practical management of MDOs in England and Wales in the context of the move to equivalence of healthcare between hospital and prison. We consider the similarities and differences between prison and hospital management of the violent and challenging behaviours of MDOs. We argue that both types of institution can learn from each other and that equivalence of care should extend to equivalence of criminal proceedings in court and prisons for MDOs. We argue that any adjudication process in prison for MDOs is enhanced by the relevant involvement of mental health professionals and the articulation of the ethical principles underpinning health and criminal justice practices.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. HMYOI Cookham Wood, CNWL NHS Foundation Trust, Sir Evelyn Road, Rochester, UK

    Heidi Hales

  2. HMP Holloway, 1 Parkhurst Road, London, UK, N7 0NU

    Amy Dixon

  3. HMP Holloway, CNWL NHS Foundation Trust, I Parkhurst Road, London, N7 0NU, UK

    Zoe Newton

  4. PHSE, St Georges, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK

    Annie Bartlett

Authors
  1. Heidi Hales
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  2. Amy Dixon
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  3. Zoe Newton
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  4. Annie Bartlett
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Heidi Hales.

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Competing Interests

HH, ZN, and AB work as healthcare professionals in prison. AD is a prison governor.

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Hales, H., Dixon, A., Newton, Z. et al. Assaults by Mentally Disordered Offenders in Prison: Equity and Equivalence. Bioethical Inquiry 13, 317–326 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11673-016-9698-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11673-016-9698-0

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