The Development of a Prison Mental Health Unit in England: Understanding Realist Context(s)

Abstract

A pragmatic solution for the provision of care for prisoners with serious mental illness, who are often subject to delays in hospital transfer, is the creation of specialist prison units. This paper analyses the development of a prison unit in England for prisoners with 'serious mental illness'. The unit was developed within overlapping health and justice contexts, including expectations, pressures and priorities, which impacted on the outcomes expected and achieved. The methodology included attendance at Steering group meetings, analysis of a minimum dataset, and interviews with key stakeholders. A number of key sites of contestation are analyzed including: admission criteria; aims; activities; staffing; the physical environment; and discharge.

Managing returns to prison from medium-secure services: qualitative study

“…In a time of economic constraint, it is unclear how feasible this is. Alternative models of PMHS have been proposed, including the contentious topic of designated ‘prison hospitals’, 19 , 20 as are present across areas of Europe and the USA. 21 – 23 However, there are ethical implications for implementing services of this type.…”

Analysis of Correctional Institution Officer Interaction Patterns and Stress During Implementation of Correctional Revitalization in Nusakambangan Indonesian

“…From this angle, it is evident that prisoners in Prison SMS and MAX Prison go through a lot of stress during the sentencing procedure. Given the central role Prison Mental Health Teams were expected to play in referrals, staff talked about the importance of developing relationships between Prison Mental Health Teams and ISU (the Integrated Support Unit) staff (Dyer et al 2021). Vice versa, officers will also experience a level of stress because relationships that do not occur indicate good relations with convicts.…”