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Conference puts spotlight on health needs of offenders
Responding to learning disability, addressing addiction and improving mental health among offenders are on the agenda today at a major conference organised by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA), the Northern Ireland Prison Service and South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.
Demand for the conference held at the Glenavon Hotel, Cookstown, has been unprecedented with over 240 professionals from statutory, voluntary and community organisations attending.
Speaking at the conference, Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the HPA, said: �The Bamford Review highlighted that people who have a mental disorder and come into contact with the criminal justice system are some of the most marginalized, stigmatized, vulnerable and poorly understood individuals in Northern Ireland and this conference is a welcome opportunity to look at how we address mental ill health and promote good mental health amongst offenders.
�It is a sad fact that those issues which affect the most vulnerable in our society are reflected disproportionately in offenders. Alcohol and drug related problems affect individuals and families across Northern Ireland and are often most challenging in offenders. Because these issues are so complex and enduring and require a coordinated approach throughout the criminal justice pathway, it is really good to see such a wide range of people working in this field here today�
The conference also provides the platform for the Prison Reform Trust to launch its report, No-one knows, highlighting views of Northern Ireland prison staff on how prisoners with learning difficulties are identified and supported in prison.
Speaking about the report, Juliet Lyon, Director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: �Despite much effort by prison staff, work with this group of prisoners is at best generally ineffective; at worst it's downright cruel to incarcerate people who may find it hard to understand what's going on, who are more likely to be picked on or bullied by other prisoners and who may leave prison less able to cope and more likely to re-offend."
�The Prison Reform Trust is pleased that the Government and the Northern Ireland Prison Service are committed to improving the situation and have already indicated their willingness to implement many of the recommendations made in our report.�
The conference themes also included mental health and addiction with the afternoon being set aside for a range of presentations on these issues.
Robin Masefield, Director of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, commended the Health Promotion Agency and the Trust for their support in bringing together a wide range of organisations with responsibility for looking after the health and wellbeing of prisoners. He said with the enhanced criminal justice and public protection arrangements now starting to bed down, there is an even greater requirement for co-operation between the agencies, including health trusts and boards.
�How apt it is that the working title of this conference is �Health and Criminal Justice.� The Criminal Justice Order provides for new arrangements for release and public protection requires greater emphasis to be placed on programme delivery for prisoners. There is, I believe, a real and emerging issue in relation to individuals with learning difficulties and disabilities. There is an onus on the authorities to ensure that prisoners with low cognitive abilities, who may struggle to complete standard programmes, are not consigned to an indefinite stay in prison.
�There needs to be a multi-disciplinary commitment and consensus on the way forward and this conference will make an important contribution to this�
John Compton, Chief Executive of the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, concluded: �This conference is an all important first step in creating a fresh opportunity to look forward at how to deliver a modern heath and social care service to offenders.�
END
Notes to the editor
There will be a media facility on Wednesday 24 September at the Glenavon Hotel, Cookstown between 11:10 � 11:40am when a number of speakers will be available for interview.
No One Knows is a UK-wide programme based at the Prison Reform Trust that aims to effect change by exploring and publicising the experiences of people with learning difficulties and learning disabilities who come into contact with the criminal justice system.
For further information
Contact Jenny Dougan, HPA, on 028 9031 1611 or 07802 299945 or Brian McAvoy, NIPS, on 028 9052 5354 or 07884 490658.
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