Psychological Disturbance in the Scottish Prison System: Prevalence, Precipitants, and Policy

• NCJ Number: 149305
• Author(s): D J Cooke
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 169 pages
• Corporate Author: Scottish Prison Service
• Sale Source: Scottish Prison Service
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: Scottish Prison Service Occasional Paper No. 3

Annotation

This report discusses findings regarding the prevalence of mental disturbance among prisoners housed in facilities operated by the Scottish Prison Service.

Abstract

The study found that the rate of mental disturbance among inmates is higher than that in the general population. Rates of depression, drug dependence, and alcoholism are particularly high. Many prisoners have, or have had, more than one mental disorder. These individuals often rotate between the mental health, criminal justice, and social services. While the evidence is not conclusive, it does indicate that a substantial proportion of mental illness among inmates begins before imprisonment. Nonetheless, the manner in which prisoners are treated by prison staff, management, and administration appears to be critical in determining the maintenance of distress and disorder. This study linked psychological disturbance and offending both prior to and during imprisonment. The four chapters of this report examine psychological disturbance in prison populations, the level and distribution of psychological disturbance in the Scottish prison system, the development of the Prison Behavior Rating Scale, and policy implications in terms of approaches to assessment and treatment. 3 appendixes and 252 references