Melanie W.’s Post

Prison suicide rates are alarming. Men are 3.7x more likely to die by suicide; women a shocking 20x. We must reform prisons, focus on rehabilitation, and address systemic issues. #PrisonSuicide #ReformNow #MentalHealth

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

A survey conducted by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, which involved over 100,000 inmates, revealed that more than 44% of jail inmates and 33% of prisoners have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder at some point in their lives. Additionally, a report from the Treatment Advocacy Center highlights that there are approximately ten times more individuals with serious mental illnesses in jails and prisons than in state mental hospitals. The conditions within these facilities, characterized by overcrowding, understaffing, and budget constraints, often lead to limited resources for mental health programs. When resources are scarce, mental health services may be deprioritized, suggesting that mental health is not considered a priority. This lack of investment not only perpetuates the stigma associated with mental illness but also undermines the effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts within the correctional system. Read our full blog - Destigmatizing Mental Health in Prisons - https://hubs.li/Q02F9gvl0

Trauma-informed care in prisons isn't just about specialised therapy; it's a systemic shift in the prison culture and practices. It's about understanding that many prisoners carry unseen trauma. From staff interaction to daily routines, trauma-informed care is a paradigm shift towards empowerment, safety and respect. The benefits include: - Reduced violence 📉 - Improved mental health 🧠 - Higher success rates in rehabilitation 🔓 Our Unlocked Graduates participants conducted insightful research on trauma-informed practice in prisons, featured in the Prison Service Journal! 🎓 Dive deeper into their findings: https://ow.ly/GpmV50QqTSv As prison service professionals, how can we champion this shift and unlock the potential for a more humane and effective prison system? #UnlockedGraduates #PrisonReform #TraumaResponsivePrisons #HealingJustice

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 enquiries@dgaexperts.co.uk. #prisons #crime #criminallaw #parentalimprisonment #psychology #legalaid #expertwitness

Monday morning, I am free to make my own decisions, when to attend to business, when to eat, when to relax, when to sleep, but what if I did not enjoy these privileges' ? What if everything I did today was dictated by others ? I had no choice, except perhaps to refuse to eat ? What if my mental health was suffering in this situation ? What if I had just found myself in prison, sentenced to many years hence, and sharing a small space ( a cell ) with a stranger with whom I have to spend 23 hours every day. He watches TV ( no peace for me ) he smells, ( I wash regularly ), and he generally, to me, represents all that is wrong with society. What then ? This situation, although fictional, is often replicated in our prisons. With an ever increasing prison population, now exceeding 89,000 people, it can only become more common, so what can we do ? Solution 1: reduce the prison population by reviewing IPP sentences, releasing everyone with a sentence of less than 12 months. Solution 2: provide more "interventions" for residents to improve mental health and make prisons more "user friendly". Solution 3: encourage more learning, more use of the library, more peer mentor work ( prisoner to prisoner ). Solution 4: Develop a more caring attitude within the controlling regime so that those who apply the rules inside prison do so with a greater concern for the person in their care. #mensmentalhealthmatters #prisonreform #education #caringcommunities #humanity

🔍 Eye-opening facts about women in prison. The most recent Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile from Prison Reform Trust illustrates how ineffective prisons are. Here's what the data reveals: ➡️ Record high levels of self-harm in women's prisons (again) ➡️ 82% of women in prison report mental health problems ➡️ Over half (53%) of women in prison on very short sentences ➡️Use of community and suspended sentences for women has declined. Short prison sentences turn lives upside down and tear families apart. The government must make better use of community sentencing options, like women's centres, proven to support women in rebuilding their lives. For more: https://ow.ly/C9zl50QJcoz #CJSReform #PrisonReform #Prisons #Women #WomenInPrison #BromleyBriefings #CriminalJusticeSystem

More than three out of every four individuals released from U.S. prisons are re-arrested within five years. Why is this revolving door scenario so vicious among those who are or have been incarcerated? When released, individuals often have strict probation guidelines to follow. However, they also face difficulty accessing housing, employment, and treatment for mental health issues. Because of this, it can feel like an overwhelming and unrealistic goal for these men and women to get the help they need, establish a life outside of prison, and build stability for themselves and their loved ones. Many changes need to be made in this system to HELP inmates leave prison and start a new life away from crime with support and understanding. That’s what we’re here for! Our mission is not only to humanize prisons on the INSIDE, but also to support individuals on the outside who need help and guidance.

Fixing our broken prison system would make all our communities safer and stronger. But, at best, court delays, chaotic early releases and haphazard policing changes will just paper over widening cracks. Countries like Norway have proven ways of reducing prison overcrowding and reoffending - for example, we should adopt their risk-based queueing system for prioritising prison places immediately. Beyond that, the Government must fix the underlying issues by getting rid of short sentences, supporting people away from crime, and ensuring access to mental health and addiction services. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/eZyfwsU4 and https://lnkd.in/gsEb__xE #prisoncrisis #prisons

Properly assessing the mental health needs of prisoners is an important part of reducing crime and recidivism. When people leave jail or prison, providing medication, access to treatment & wraparound services are critical for integration back into the community. Riverbend's President & CEO Lisa K. Madden is in Atlanta, Georgia for the National Summit to Advance States' Criminal Justice Priorities. The 50-state summit focuses on crime and public safety. Madden will speak Wed., Dec. 5 on a panel with other experts, addressing the critical need for behavioral health services for people leaving jails or prisons, as a way to reduce crime and improve community health. #mental-health#mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealth #selfcare #healing #mentalhealthawareness #criminaljustice #reducingrecidivism #behavioralhealth #communityintegration #publicsafety #mentalhealthsupport