Self-harm incidents ‘ rocket’ at all-female prison
The Herald: 26 May 2009. >> article

Viewpoint

“Prison should never be a place for people with severe and enduring mental health problems. They should never be here”

Out of Sight, Severe and Enduring Mental Health Problems in Scotland’s Prisons,
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland, August 2008.

Given that nearly one in ten of Cornton Vale’s inmates are adjudged to suffer from severe and enduring mental health problems, the alarming rise in incidents of self harm among women at the prison should not come as a big surprise. It is widely accepted that the vast majority of inmates at Cornton Vale, suffer from some sort of mental illness or addiction issue at reception.

These women typically arrive in a very vulnerable state with issues of abuse, poverty, substance misuse and addiction particularly common. Even a short stay in prison is damaging and only serves to dislocate any social supports they have.

By intervening at the earliest opportunity and at the lowest appropriate level, there is a good chance that many of these women can be led to the treatment and health and social care they require to help them address their offending behaviour. Although prisons do what they can to address these issues, they too harbour major concerns over the training, resources and suitability of their staff to properly treat those with mental health issues. The disruption caused by imprisoning those with mental health problems also severely impacts on other prisoners and the prison staff’s ability to properly assist their rehabilitation.

This excessive and inappropriate use of prison does nothing to address the increasing rate of reoffending among women prisoners. The latest available figures indicate that 60% of women leaving Scotland’s prisons will be reconvicted within two years.

By properly addressing the needs of women offenders as well as the deeds, Sacro believes the reoffending rates among women can be significantly reduced. Early intervention to treat health, addiction, social and abuse issues, greater provision of throughcare services and specialised mentoring services for women offenders leaving prison can have a far greater impact on cutting the cycle of reoffending than imprisonment ever can.