Offender Personality Disorder

Thursday 17th February 2011 Written Statements

[The Minister of State, Department of Health (Paul Burstow)]

I am publishing today a joint Department of Health and Ministry of Justice consultation document on an “Offender personality disorder pathway implementation plan”.

This document sets out the Government’s plans to reshape services, interventions and treatments for offenders with severe personality disorders. These plans would be implemented within the existing resources devoted to this area across the national health service and National Offender Management Service. The proposals take account of the learning from the dangerous and severe personality disorder programme, introduced by the previous Administration, and are aimed to improve identification and assessment, increase treatment capacity, provide additional psychological support in prisons, and strengthen oversight for those released from custody.

This consultation is an important opportunity for professional bodies, service providers in health and criminal justice, patients and the public to comment on how best to ensure continuity of care through the development of effective service pathways across custodial settings and in the community, to improve care, protect the public and make the best use possible of the available resources. This consultation sets out the Government’s initial thoughts and invites views from interested persons or organisations.

The consultation document has been placed in the Library. Copies are available to hon. Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office.