To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to ensure that the mental health of those sentenced to imprisonment is professionally checked before their sentence starts to ensure that they receive appropriate treatment; and whether they will consult the Prison Advice and Care Trust and other voluntary groups on this issue.
Answered on
22 June 2022
Liaison and diversion services operate at police stations and criminal courts to identify and assess people with vulnerabilities, such as substance misuse and mental ill-health and refer them to appropriate services and where appropriate, away from the justice system. The assessments assist magistrates and judges in sentencing decisions. We are also working with health and justice partners to increase the use of community sentence treatment requirements to reduce reoffending and custodial sentences by offering drug or alcohol treatment as part of a community sentence.
Voluntary organisations and groups representing those with lived experience are regularly consulted by NHS England on decisions relating to offender health policy and have participated in developing policy on liaison and diversion services and Community Sentence Treatment Requirements.