Multiagency working in the criminal justice

system

By Jane Jolliffe and Garry Parvin

Drivers for change

Her Majesty’s Court Service (HMCS), National Offender Management (NOMS) and NHS aim to improve service for ‘mentally disordered adult offenders’.

Three pilots at South East, London and the Old Bailey looking at additional support in the crown court.

Legislation and Reports: Mental Health Act, Bradley Review, ‘No One Knows (Prison Reform Trust 2009).

Manchester was identified as a pilot site due to the success of the Manchester Offender: Diversion and Liaison (MO:DEL) service.

Partnership created between NHS Manchester, Greater Manchester Police and HMCS to establish the effectiveness of a ‘Targeted Services Court’.

Started in April 2011.

Setting up a targeted court

Aims of the new court

The Targeted Magistrates Court focused on offenders who:• Commit lesser offences. • Require multi agency interventions.• Diversion from custody • Support around maintaining treatment orders

Overall outcome: reduction of mentally disordered offenders in the Criminal Justice System. A safety net whenall other agencies have failed to identify mentally disordered offenders.

Training

Training: 100 magistrates and 28 legal advisors by all available support services: Manchester Learning Disability Partnership. MO:DEL Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust

Personality Disorder Service Black and Ethnic minority Mental Health Network Drug and Alcohol Team / Services

Aim: to assist magistrates to identify offenders who are ‘vulnerable’ and inform community sentences.

Evaluation

Experiencing low referral rates due to issue of identification and screening.

The National Team (offender Health) said it was a ‘national example of best practice’.

User evaluation being undertaken with Dr Chadwick & Dr Wesson from Wolverhampton Uni.

Future plans

Training to other court personal e.g. ushers, clerks and reception.

Adapting for the specific needs of offenders with significant learning disabilities e.g. ‘easy read’ guide: Going to Manchester’s Targeted Court, easy read exclusion orders.

To work with partners to ensure that all learning disabled offenders / people with autism access this court.

Increased use of community orders including contact with specialist health staff e.g. OTs for supervision and specified activities, SLTs for communication support.

Hope Outside Prison Environment (HOPE) Project. Manchester have been awarded 300K from DH to develop ‘aftercare and support’ packages. Learning Disabled People and people with autism are to included in this project.