R. Huws et al., PRISON TRANSFERS TO SPECIAL-HOSPITALS SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE MENTAL-HEALTH-ACT-1983, JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY, 8(1), 1997, pp. 74-84
Research on prisoners transferred to Special Hospitals during the curr
ency of the Mental Health Act 1959 raised concerns about delays in tra
nsfer, prisoners being transferred late in their sentence, and prisone
rs, often sex offenders, being detained in hospital for prolonged peri
ods. The latter gave rise to worry that the Special Hospitals were bei
ng used to detain patients preventively. This study dealt with sentenc
ed prisoners transferred to the three Special Hospitals of England and
Wales after the introduction of the Mental Health Act 1983. Its purpo
se was to consider whether the concerns raised earlier remained valid.
The records of all patients transferred from prison to Special Hospit
al during the period 1984-91 were reviewed. Of all admissions to the S
pecial Hospitals, 351 (23%) were transferred prisoners. The admission
characteristics of the transferred group were similar to those of othe
r referrals. The results failed to confirm the earlier concerns. In mo
st cases prisoners were transferred to hospital within 2 months of bei
ng assessed. There was little evidence that transfer was being used to
lengthen a prison sentence and no evidence that time spent in hospita
l reflected the gravity of the offence.