Offenders - guidance
Guidance sections provide a space for resources that help convert principles or policy into action. The resources are listed alphabetically by author/issuing body and then by date.
You might also like to refer to the policy and agencies and communities sections for further information on offenders.
The resources below were last accessed on 12 March 2013. Some of them are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.
Campbell Collaboration
The Campbell Collaboration (C2) is an international research network that produces systematic reviews of the effects of social interventions. It aims to help people make well-informed decisions by preparing, maintaining and disseminating systematic reviews in education, crime and justice, and social welfare. You can use the search facility to search for reviews and protocols for reviews on specific topics. An advanced search option is also available - see The Campbell Library.
Care Quality Commission, HM Inspectorate of Probation, Inspection of Youth Offending (2011) Re: Actions: a third review of healthcare in the community for young people who offend
Children and young people who have offended, or are likely to offend have a higher percentage of health-related issues than those of the general youth population. This report, the third review of the health contribution to youth offending services, highlights the progress made since the review of 2009 ‘Actions speak louder’ which made a “significant number of recommendations to promote more effective support”. Improvements are noted particularly in the management and oversight of health within youth offending teams (YOTS), and the efforts made in engaging children and young people in their health interventions. The transitions between child and adult services remains problematic and a series of recommendations is made around resourcing and ways of working. There is concern about the impact of the economic climate and changes to funding arrangements and youth offending teams are urged to demonstrate the impact of health contributions on offending.
For information about youth offending insopections in England and Wales, and copies of the previous two review reports see the section of the Care Quality Commission website on Youth offending inspections.
Centre for Mental Health: Criminal justice
The Centre for Mental Health, formerly the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health (SCMH), has a programme focusing on mental health and criminal justice inside and out of prison. The Centre carries out research and analysis, looking across the whole system, including early intervention, diversion, custody, community, and resettlement.
Publications from the programme can be downloaded from the website. See Centre for Mental Health criminal justice publications.
Centre for Mental Health: A better way for the criminal justice system
The Centre’s campaign aimed to highlight concerns and "provoke political, media and public debate about the approach we take to mental health in the criminal justice system." The pages about the campaign feature major reports published by the Centre on aspects of mental health and the criminal justice system.
Centre for Mental Health (2010) Public health and criminal justice
This policy paper looks at a range of innovative programmes and interventions that target people and communities at high risk of social exclusion, poor mental health and offending.
Centre for Mental Health (2010) Under the radar: women with borderline personality disorder in prison
One in four female prisoners struggles with borderline personality disorder, which is exacerbated by the prison environment as many of these women come from an unstable family environment. This report calls for better diversion from custodial sentences. It also calls for increased training for prison staff and for access to psychological therapies for women prisoners.
Department of Health: Offender Health
Offender Health is a joint Department of Health and Ministry of Justice National Offender Management Service (NOMS) unit. The Offender Health Division is responsible for leading on development and delivery of a cross government Health and Criminal Justice Programme. The programme’s common aim is improving health and social care outcomes for adults and children in contact with the criminal justice system, focusing on early intervention, liaison and diversion. For a catalogue of relevant publications from the Department of Health published prior to August 2011 see Offender health publications and guidance.
Department of Health (2011) A guide to working with offenders with personality disorders
Produced in partnership with the National Offender Management Service, this is designed to provide practical, hands-on advice for frontline staff working with offenders with highly complex needs.
Department of Health (2011) Positive practice, positive outcomes: a handbook for professionals in the criminal justice system working with offenders with a learning disability
Provides information, practical advice signposting and best practice examples. There is an accompanying easy read version for offenders with a learning disability.
Department of Health (2009) Information book for prisoners with a disability
Offender Health and the Prison Reform Trust have published two information books for prisoners with a disability. One is a short, easy-read version (blue book) for prisoners with learning disabilities. The second book (purple book) has more in depth detail for prisoners with a disability on their health, daily life, how to get help in prison and on release and is available in 26 languages.
Department of Health (2009) PALS in prison: a toolkit and good practice guidance for implementing Patient Advice and Liaison Services in a secure setting
Toolkit and good practice guidance covering the implementation of the Patient Advice and Liaison Service in a secure setting. Designed to be read by commissioners and providers of healthcare in the criminal or youth justice sectors.
Department of Health (2007,2008) A pathway to care for older offenders: a toolkit for good practice
The purpose of this toolkit is to inform and assist the delivery of individually planned care for older prisoners whilst in prison, followed by successful resettlement back into the community, receiving the necessary support to sustain an optimum quality of life and reduce re-offending.
Department of Health (2007) Good practice in prison health
The report outlines examples of good practice in provision of health care services to offenders in prison and the community.
Department of Health (2007) Offender mental health care pathway
This care pathway document lays down valuable best practice templates to guide providers and commissioners on mental health services for those involved in the criminal justice system.
Hallam Centre for Community Justice: Resettlement of women (ex) offenders (PDF 49KB)
This leaflet from the Hallam Centre of Justice at Sheffield Hallam University, offers suggestions to enhance current resettlement work being conducted with female (ex)offenders. The guidance offered is based on extensive research and hands on working with women (ex)offenders under the remit of the SOVA (supporting others through volunteer action) led project 'Women into Work'.
Nursing Standard's series of five articles on ‘Nursing in prisons’:
The articles "reflect the many challenges faced by nurses who provide health care in the prison setting and the varied complex and specialist skills needed to perform their role. These skills range from early intervention, health promotion, health needs assessment, nurse-led services and acute care, to advanced practice and non-medical prescribing."
- Perry J et al (2010) Nursing in prisons: developing the speciality of offender health care. Nursing Standard 24(39) 2 June pp.35-40.
- Bennett C et al (2010) Leadership skills for nurses working in the criminal justices system. Nursing Standard 24(40) 9 June pp.35-40.
- Lapworth T et al (2010) Assessment of acutely ill patients in the criminal justice system. Nursing standard 24(41) 16 June pp.35-41.
- Perry J et al (2010) Management of long-term conditions in a prison setting. Nursing Standard 24(42) pp.35-40.
- Perry J et al (2010) Education and career opportunities for nurses in offender health care. Nursing Standard 24(43) 30 June pp.35-39.
RCN members can access the full text of these articles via the RCN e-library.
Offender Health Research Network: OHRN Toolkit and Researcher’s Handbook
The toolkit 'aims to outline a clear pathway to successfully undertake health research in the criminal justice system'. It is intended primarily for staff who are new to research. Also accessible from this page is the ‘researcher’s handbook’ which provides an introduction to the Criminal Justice System as well as covering fundamentals of research and on conducting research in criminal justice settings. Both publications are regularly updated.
Prison Reform Trust (2012) Turning young lives around
“High numbers of children who offend have health, education and social care needs, which, if not met at an early age, can lead to a lifetime of declining health and worsening offending behaviour, with significant long term costs to the taxpayer, and to the victims of these crimes”. Despite this, health and youth justice services are not working as effectively together as they could to address these issues. This briefing paper seeks to encourage effective joint working between Health and Wellbeing Boards and youth justice services, in particular, to ensure that local strategies reflect the needs of children and young people who offend, especially those with mental health problems and learning disabilities. It outlines a practical action agenda and provides examples of good practice to help turn these young lives around.
Prison Reform Trust (2010) Seen and heard: supporting vulnerable children in the youth justice system
This report, based on a survey of youth offending team (YOT) staff in England and Wales, “expresses concern that children with learning disabilities and other impairments may not be receiving the right to a fair trial, enshrined in Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as a result of their difficulties in understanding the legal and judicial process”. Twenty five per cent of young offenders have special educational needs. The report identifies a lack of routine screening and assessment to identify children’s support needs partly due to insufficient training of YOT staff and gaps in the provision of specialist services and support. A series of recommendations are presented which incorporate those made by YOT staff.
Prison Reform Trust (2009) Too little, too late: an independent review of unmet mental health need in prison
This report from the Prison Reform Trust, supported by the Mercers' Company, is based on information and evidence from the Independent Monitoring Boards of 57 prisons and reveals that many people who should have been diverted into mental health or social care from police stations or courts are entering prisons, which are ill-equipped to meet their needs, and then being discharged back into the community without any support. The report makes a number of recommendations for change.
Prison Reform Trust (2007) No one knows - prisoners with learning disabilities and learning difficulties
This UK-wide programme led by the Prison Reform Trust aimed to effect change by exploring and publicising the experiences of people with learning difficulties and learning disabilities who come into contact with the criminal justice system. Information about the programme, which ran until October 2008, and copies of reports produced are available in this section of the Prison Reform Trust website.
Other Prison Reform Trust publications can be found at publication categories.
Royal College of Nursing (2009) Health and nursing care in the criminal justice service: RCN guidance for nursing staff (PDF 523.9KB)
The role of health care nurses in the criminal justice service is varied, complex and often challenging. This guide will help nurses to access up to date information, toolkits and sources of advice. It is a resource to support the delivery of high quality services to people in a broad range of environments, from police custody to high security prisons in all four UK countries and it highlights the specific health and nursing care needs of offenders.
Scottish Prison Service (2011) Memorandum of understanding between NHS and SPS
Responsibility for the delivery of health care to prisoners was transferred to the NHS in July 2008. This document "provides a framework of guidance on the responsibilities of the Scottish Prison Service and with prisons on contract to it, and Health Boards in the provision of health services for prisoners, acknowledging that social care agencies, other statutory and third sector organisations, play a key role in maintaining support to prisoners, families and communities, both prior and subsequent to release from prison". See also the Information sharing protocol between NHS and SPS.
User Voice (2010) What’s your story: young offenders’ insights into tackling youth crime and its causes’ (PDF 2.72MB)
The report presents the findings of the User Voice’s Excluded Youth project which was launched in summer 2010. The project involved a survey of 582 excluded young people between the ages of 12 and 27 followed up by discussion groups. The project revealed “staggering levels of system failure” and this report seeks to share the stories of those who participated in the project.