Practitioners at Together have joined forces with criminal justice
and health agencies to produce a new mental health guide targeted at
frontline criminal justice agency staff.
Believed to be the first of its kind, 'A common sense approach to working with defendants and offenders with mental health problems' was launched by Louis Appleby CBE, National Clinical Director for Health and Criminal Justice, at an event in London today (11 Jan 2011).
It offers guidance to professionals such as police officers,
probation officers, security and court staff on how to work effectively
with the disproportionate number of people with mental health problems
who find themselves in contact with the criminal justice system. It also
includes information and advice on working with people who have
substance misuse issues, alcohol problems and learning difficulties.