Health in Prison
Health in Prison, including Mental Health and Drug Policy
UK: The Patel Report - Reducing Drug Related Crime and Rehabilitating Offenders 12th December 2011
This report, published by the Prison Drug Treatment Strategy Review Group, reviews drug treatment and interventions in prisons and for people on release from prison in England. It goes on to make several recommendations relating to drug treatment programmes in prison and the community. Read more
Medical Independent: 'Suffering on the Inside' 11th August 2011
June Shannon examines whether the State is meeting the basic human rights of Irish prisoners with a mental illness in an overcrowded and decaying jail system. Read more
Guidance on physical healthcare in a prison context 30th May 2011
The Inspector of Prisons, Judge Michael Reilly, has published 'best practice' guidelines for the physical healthcare that should be available to prisoners in our prisons. Read more
Irish Examiner: 'Almost 1,200 prisoners avail of drug counselling' 4th January 2011
Writing in the 'Irish Examiner', Noel Baker reports that 1,200 prisoners are now accessing drug counselling in prison, while 34 people are on a waiting list for drug treatment programmes. Read more
Health Service Executive: The Introduction of the Opioid Treatment Protocol 20th December 2010
This report by the Health Service Executive represents the first external review of the Methadone Treatment Protocol in Ireland. It seeks to examine the regulatory process and oversight of methadone and opiate dependence treatment. Read more
Methadone Services in Cork Prison 8th December 2010
There is an acute awareness that within this State the majority of offenders entering custodial institutions suffer from one form of drug addiction or another, yet one of largest prisons in the state, Cork Prison, still lack the capability of providing essential methadone services. Read more
Mental health facilities in Mountjoy prison 8th December 2010
The current facilities available for accommodating prisoners at risk of self-harm and suicide in Mountjoy Prison would appear to be grossly inadequate, according to a published report by the Inspectors at the Mental Health Commission. Read more
Impact Personality Disorder Project 28th October 2010
Camden and Islington NHS mental health trust have formed a partnership with the London Probation Service aiming to reduce the recidivism rates and recall into prison of offenders with high risk personality disorders upon release into the community. Read more
Prison Mental Health: Vision and Reality 21st September 2010
The Royal College of Nursing has launched a new publication, 'Prison mental health: vision and reality' developed jointly with the Centre for Mental Health and Nacro, the crime reduction charity. Read more
Under the Radar: Women with borderline personality disorder in prison 14th September 2010 
One in four female prisoners struggle with borderline personality disorder, yet their needs are going unnoticed in the UK justice system, according to a report published by the Centre for Mental Health. Read more