Probation, Mental Health and Criminal Justice

This collection of research and evaluation explores issues in mental health and probation across the globe. The volume offers insight into a wide range of interrelated topics that address the mental health and mental health needs of those under probation supervision.

Charlie Brooker has an honorary chair in the Department of Law and Criminology at Royal Holloway, University of London. He was previously professor of mental health at both the Universities of Sheffield and Manchester. He has published widely on the intersect between health and the Criminal Justice System including prisons, probation, policy custody, secure children's homes and sexual assault referral centres (SARCs). Coral Sirdifield is a Senior Research Associate at the University of Lincoln. She previously worked for the National Probation Service as part of a Lottery-funded project which employed nurses in probation offices to assess and address the health needs of people under probation supervision. She has been conducting research on understanding and addressing the health and social care needs of people in the Criminal Justice System since 2006.

Preface, Lord David Ramsbotham; Chapter 1: Probation, Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System: An introduction, Professor Charlie Brooker & Dr Coral Sirdifield; Part I: What is the evidence for effective mental health interventions in probation?; Chapter 2: Mental health: a systematic review, Professor Charlie Brooker & Dr Coral Sirdifield; Chapter 3: Suicide: a systematic review, Dr Coral Sirdifield; Chapter 4: Substance misuse: a systematic review, Dr Coral Sirdifield; Part II: How common are mental health problems in probation?; Chapter 5: The Lincolnshire Prevalence Study, Professor Charlie Brooker & Dr Coral Sirdifield; Chapter 6: Mental health among persons subject to probation supervision in Ireland, Christina Power & Gerry McNally; Part III: Thematic reviews; Chapter 7: Thematic inspection of individuals with mental health needs and disorders in the Criminal Justice System, Dr Laura Buckley, Avtar Singh & Dr Robin Moore; Chapter 8: Substance misuse services and probation: a fractured relationship, Kevin Ball & Lisa Parker; Part IV: Psychological treatment; Chapter 9: Psychological treatment and screening, Dr James Fowler; Chapter 10: New directions for suicide prevention in Approved Premises, Professor Karen Slade; Chapter 11: Autism and offending behaviour, Andrew Bates; Part V: Probation and Covid-19; Chapter 12: A view of probation and mental health after the pandemic, Kerry Ellis Devitt, David Coley, Jess Lawrence & Stacey Musimbe-Rix; Part VI: Methodological issues; Chapter 13: A lived experience perspective: enhancing the work of probation through co-production, Emma, Jason & Dr Philip Mullen (Revolving Doors Agency); Chapter 14: Researching the probation service response to mental health need, Professor David Denney & Dr Coral Sirdifield; Part VII: Conclusion; Chapter 15: Conclusion, Professor Charlie Brooker, Dr Coral Sirdifield & Professor David Denney