Reports reveal an increase in the number of individuals with serious mental illness in jails, prisons and forensic hospitals. Despite the wide-ranging and devastating consequences of this 'criminalization' of mental illness, there remains a lack of information on the subject as well as on the provision of care for these patients. This important new book fills a gap in the literature by examining topics such as: the history and policy factors related to criminalization; original research on forensic populations; pharmacological and psychological treatment strategies; and principles and guidelines for diversion out of the criminal justice system.
Forensic Psychiatry and Mental Health in Australia: An Overview
Andrew Ellis
The indigenous inhabitants of the Australian continent arrived approximately 65,000 years ago. Issues of mental illness and criminal responsibility prior to European arrival are not well known by current professionals. The continent is now home to the Commonwealth of Australia, a parliamentary democracy, established in 1901 following land claims by Britain that began in 1788. The Commonwealth is a federation of six states and two territories that were originally colonies of Britain. The first British colony in Sydney, New South Wales was a penal settlement, which perhaps set the tone for development of forensic mental health services across the country as developing as an offshoot from prison services. Forensic mental health services have been reviewed before,1,2 and more recent developments are covered.