Centre for Mental Health

Sainsbury Centre welcomes new report on impact of Imprisonment for Public Protection

8 July 2010

"The Prison Reform Trust has today given us a timely reminder of the impact of Imprisonment for Public Protection on prisoners, their families and the justice system," Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health joint chief executive Sean Duggan said today.

Responding to the publication of the report Unjust Deserts, Sean Duggan said: "Indeterminate prison sentences can cause serious emotional distress among prisoners and their families. People on Imprisonment for Public Protection have high levels of mental ill health. Many have been in contact with mental health services in the past. This puts pressure on prison mental health services.

"We support the Prison Reform Trust's call for better provision of offending behaviour programmes in prisons and for reduced reliance on these programmes for IPP prisoners to be considered for release on licence. The exclusion of IPP prisoners with mental health problems from these programmes is a cause for especial concern.

"It is also vital that community services, including mental health, are able to support IPP prisoners when they are released to avoid a 'revolving doors' problem among those with mental health difficulties."