Awards

• Winner of SPTL Prize for Outstanding Legal Scholarship 2000.
• Winner of Winner of the SPTL prize 2000.

Overview

In recent years there has been growing concern and controversy surrounding the care and treatment of mentally disordered offenders. Consequently, there have been a series of legislative and policy developments during the last decade, which have led to changes in attitude and the way that such offender-patients are treated. Such changes have focused primarily upon timely therapeutic intervention and diversion from the criminal justice system. Care or Custody?: Mentally Disordered Offenders in the Criminal Justice System considers these issues in depth. It is a comprehensive and scholarly text which identifies some of the practical difficulties that occur when mentally disordered offenders come into contact with the criminal justice system. The law in this area is complex and this book will enable professionals involved in the subject to gain a better understanding of the law and policy with regard to mentally disordered offenders. Judith Laing also analyses and addresses some of the theoretical issues and concerns surrounding the treatment and detention of mentally disordered offenders. The book will therefore assist and inform legal, mental health, and related practitioners working in this field, and will also provide a theoretical overview of the law for academics and students.

Full Product Details

Author:   Judith Laing (Lecturer at Cardiff Law School, Lecturer at Cardiff Law School, University of Cardiff)
Publisher:   Oxford University Press
Imprint:   Oxford University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 16.20cm , Height: 2.60cm , Length: 24.10cm
Weight:   0.696kg
ISBN:  

9780198268185

ISBN 10:   0198268181
Pages:   384
Publication Date:   21 October 1999
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.

Table of Contents

List of tables List of charts List of cases List of statutes Preface Part One 1: The basic principles 1.1: Introduction 1.2: Who are mentally disordered offenders? 1.3: What role does psychiatry play in the treatment of mental disorder? 1.4: How should mentally disordered offenders be treated? 1.5: What is diversion? 1.6: Conclusion 2: The historical context 2.1: Introduction 2.2: The origins of contemporary policies and philosophies 2.3: The 1970's reform movement 2.4: Government action 2.5: The Mental Health (Amendment) Act 1982 2.6: The Mental Health Act 1983 2.7: Reaction to the new act 2.8: Conclusion 3: Diversion under the Mental Health Act 1983 and related provisions 3.1: Introduction 3.2: Arrest 3.3: Prosecution 3.4: Remand 3.5: Sentencing 3.6: Conclusion 4: The development of an explicit diversion policy for mentally disordered offenders 4.1: Introduction 4.2: Setting the stage for reform - the failures of the 1980's 4.3: The solution - the diversion of mentally disordered offenders 4.4: The introduction of diversion schemes 4.5: National recognition and implementation of diversion policy 4.6: A collaborative strategic approach 4.7: The impact of diversion policy 4.8: The difficulties with diversion 4.9: Conclusion Part Two 5: Diversion in West Yorkshire - A process study 5.1: Introduction 5.2: Research Methodology 5.3: Identifying the research site 5.4: The data collection process 5.5: The quantitative study 5.6: The qualitative study 5.7: Stimulus for reform - The Mentally disordered offenders conference 5.8: The development of local diversion initiatives 5.9: Region wide developments 5.10: A process evaluation - overview 5.11: Conclusion 6: Diversion in West Yorkshire - an impact study 6.1: Introduction 6.2: Part One - the quantitative analysis 6.3: Part Two - the qualitative analysis 6.4: Conclusion 7: Conclusion Appendix A. Diversion under the existing provisions Appendix B. Police Station Assessment (PSA Model) Appendix C. Court Psychiatrist Assessment (NAC/PAC Models) Appendix D. Court Panel Assessment (MAAP Model) Appendix E. (a) Letter to interviewees (b) Interview schedule Bibliography

Reviews

`Academics and professionals will find this a very thoughtful and well researched work. Academics will find the historical coverage a highly useful teaching resorce; and practitioners will be heartened to read of the successful outcomes of diversion as practised in a variety of forms and settings in Yorkshire ... libraries (both academic and agency based) should be encouraged to purchase the book. If you want to know about diversion, its recent history and its implementation this is the book to read as a stimulus to further thought.' Professor Herschel Prins, Probation Journal 2000 `The chapters on Developments of diversion policy and on Diversion under the Mental Health Act are both interesting and informative. ...Her knowledge of the literature is outstanding and her references and bibliography are likely to be a major source of information for some time to come.' Philip Bean, Professor of Criminology, University of Loughborough, The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice `It is one of the calamities of our age that so little research has been done on the mentally disordered offender and Judith Laing's research is to be welcomed.' Philip Bean, Professor of Criminology, University of Loughborough, The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice `The greatest stregth of the book is as a resource, for there is no doubt that Judith Laing knows her subject. I am sure this book will be needed for some considerable time.' Philip Bean, Professor of Criminology, University of Loughborough, The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice `This is an excellent book and Laing is to be congratulated for putting together a truly intelligent book.' Paul Okojie, Manchester Metropolitan University

Academics and professionals will find this a very thoughtful and well researched work. Academics will find the historical coverage a highly useful teaching resorce; and practitioners will be heartened to read of the successful outcomes of diversion as practised in a variety of forms and settings in Yorkshire ... libraries (both academic and agency based) should be encouraged to purchase the book. If you want to know about diversion, its recent history and its implementation this is the book to read as a stimulus to further thought. Professor Herschel Prins, Probation Journal 2000 The chapters on Developments of diversion policy and on Diversion under the Mental Health Act are both interesting and informative. ...Her knowledge of the literature is outstanding and her references and bibliography are likely to be a major source of information for some time to come. Philip Bean, Professor of Criminology, University of Loughborough, The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice It is one of the calamities of our age that so little research has been done on the mentally disordered offender and Judith Laing's research is to be welcomed. Philip Bean, Professor of Criminology, University of Loughborough, The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice The greatest stregth of the book is as a resource, for there is no doubt that Judith Laing knows her subject. I am sure this book will be needed for some considerable time. Philip Bean, Professor of Criminology, University of Loughborough, The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice This is an excellent book and Laing is to be congratulated for putting together a truly intelligent book. Paul Okojie, Manchester Metropolitan University

Author Information

Judith Laing is a Lecturer in Law at Cardiff Law School, University of Wales, Cardiff

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