1. Paul Biddle Research Fellow
Closing the Revolving Door? The role of diversion services in supporting offenders with mental health issues and learning disabilities.
Paul Biddle
Research Fellow

2. The Problem
“I definitely think if I hadn’t seen the (mental health nurse) I would’ve hung myself by now”.
Service User
24 November, 2018

3. The Problem
Offenders with un-addressed mental health issues (and other associated problems) continue re-entering the criminal justice system (CJS) without diagnosis/interventions
Detrimental impact of prison on mental health of prisoners
Desire to improve public protection
Need to reduce re-offending
Bradley Report (2009) recognised these problems –emphasised that they are interlinked
24 November, 2018

4. The Solution (?)
Bradley - Criminal Justice Liaison & Diversion Services (CJLDS) to deliver community-based interventions to those in repeat contact with CJS who have multiple meets not met by existing services
Led to Offender Health Commissioning Unit (NE) funding 3 pilot CJLDS
2 within Integrated Offender Management teams (IOMs) & 1 in Magistrates Court - designed to reduce re-offending by addressing issues of those in repeat contact with CJS
1 Nurse for each pilot
24 November, 2018

5. Evaluation Approach Evaluation Approach Exploratory Design
Implementation-Mechanisms of Impact-Context-Outcomes
Time & budget issues led to use of distance-travelled approach to capture interim outcomes
Evaluation Tools
Lit. Rev
Semi-structured interviews/focus groups:
Staff
Service users
Case notes/records → case studies
Data from the Minimum Data Set Project utilised
24 November, 2018

6. Findings Total accepted referrals (Nov 12-Jun 13) Male White-British
Unemployed/Long term sick
Over 10 previous convictions
Current index offence (non-violent)
Previous prison sentence
Previous contact with mental health services
191
82%
99%
98%
69%
77%
70%
60%
24 November, 2018

7. Findings
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8. Findings
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9. Findings
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10. Findings
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11. Findings
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12. Findings Pilots did provide support:
Assist diagnosis, support referral, enable immediate interventions, enhance advocacy and so provide additional opportunities to address offending and issues
A useful part of a wider package of interventions – not a panacea
Service User
“My attitude towards people has changed…on normal occasions when I would’ve kicked off and later regretted it, I’ve thought about it logically. I’ve thought to myself there’s too much to lose”
24 November, 2018

13. The Future Local flexibilities/no blueprint → future of IOM/CJLNs???
Clarification of CJLN roles – include casework?
Address client and stakeholder disengagement
Standardise assessment, screening and referral:
Especially re: Learning Disabilities
Use of MDS to continue to capture outcomes
24 November, 2018

14. The challenges of evaluation
Timescales – resulted in evaluation being able to:
Identify initial positive results that are prerequisites for success
Provide findings sufficient to assist ongoing £
Timescales
Did not allow for ultimate outcomes (e.g. reoffending) to be captured fully
24 November, 2018

15. End
Any Questions?
24 November, 2018