This source preferred by Colin Pritchard

Authors: Pritchard, C., Cox, M. and Dawson, A.

Journal: Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health

Volume: 117

Pages: 180-185

ISSN: 1466-4240

DOI: 10.1177/146642409711700310

The 'Health of the Nation' (Department of Health, 1992) suicide targets focus upon the mentally ill, but virtually ignore the mentally abnormal offender. Whilst forensic services deal with the severely disturbed, the majority of offenders remain in the community, despite long-standing psychosocial difficulties.

This study explores the mortality rates of a six-year cohort of male probationers (1990-1995) with males in the general population. Male offenders (aged 17-54) had double the death rate, five times the 'external death' rate and nine times the suicide rate of the general population.

This paper highlights the need to further improve the health-psychiatric-criminal justice collaboration.