Best practice in working with people with mental health problems on probation

Why read this evidence review?

There are many benefits to making sure that we understand the mental health needs of people on probation and address them. Criminal justice and health agencies need to work together to make sure that people get the support that they need with their mental health. However, currently, the services that are provided are not always suitable to meet this population’s needs, and people on probation can face numerous barriers to accessing care.

In this evidence review, Professor Charlie Brooker, honorary professor at Royal Holloway, University of London and Dr Coral Sirdifield, Senior Research Associate at the University of Lincoln, look at:

• The benefits of focusing on the mental health of people on probation
• What we know about the mental health of people on probation
• The organisation of mental health care, current initiatives, and challenges to providing high-quality care
• What good quality care for people on probation looks like
• Improving the evidence base and provision of care.

An online evidence base for the voluntary sector working in the criminal justice system

This article forms part of a series from Clinks, created to develop a far-reaching and accessible evidence base covering the most common types of activity undertaken within the criminal justice system. There are two main aims of this online series:

1. To increase the extent to which the voluntary sector bases its services on the available evidence base
2. To encourage commissioners to award contracts to organisations delivering an evidence-based approach.

Each article has been written by a leading academic with particular expertise on the topic in question. The topics are selected by Clinks’ members as areas of priority interest. Clinks intends to build a comprehensive directory of the best evidence available across a wide range of criminal justice topics. The online evidence base is co-ordinated by Russell Webster on behalf of Clinks.

Click here to find out more about the Evidence library.

Want to find out more about this topic?

Part of the 'A matter of fact: what the evidence tells us' series, to accompany our Evidence library, Clinks is giving you the chance to hear from the experts themselves. Professor Charlie Brooker and Dr Coral Sirdifield discuss best practice in working with people with mental health problems on probation.

Watch the video recording below: