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University of Bath

Mentally disordered offenders’ perspectives on their risk assessment plans

An IPR Policy Brief examining mentally disordered offenders’ views of their risk assessment and management plans.

Research carried out by Dr Jeremy Dixon (University of Bath) examined mentally disordered offenders’ views of their risk assessment and management plans. The research took place between March 2009 and September 2011, and involved a combination of interviews with mentally disordered offenders and a review of their health and social care records. These offenders had been given a hospital treatment order at the point of sentencing. They were also subject to restrictions operated by the Ministry of Justice during and after hospital admission, on the grounds that such restrictions were necessary to protect the public. The findings show that although mentally disordered offenders were aware that mental health professionals were assessing their risk, they were generally unaware of the content of these assessments and how decisions were made.