Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 59
Establish clear support for mentally unwell prisoners remitted to prison from secure hospitals
Recommendation
Additionally, there are a small number of mentally unwell prisoners who are subsequently transferred to a secure mental hospital. For these prisoners, the process for post-tariff release is more complex, and we are not clear what support is offered to those who, after a period of treatment, are no longer deemed detainable under the Mental Health Act 1983, but do not go on to meet the Parole Board’s test for release, and are then transferred back to prison from the secure hospital. The MoJ, HMPPS and the Parole Board should set out what support is available to those prisoners who are remitted back to prison after a period of time spent under section in a secure hospital, and how they are supported to progress in their sentence.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government accepts that sufficient programme places should be provided for suitable IPP prisoners. It states that bespoke sentence planning and a review of prisoner location will be incorporated into the IPP Action Plan review, without committing to specific new actions.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
59
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government · verbatim extract
Acknowledged
Reasoning: The Government recognises that the remittance back to prison, following a period in a secure hospital, can be difficult for the prisoner, and we have processes in place to support the progression of those individuals through their sentence. HMPPS and MoJ are working with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and National Health Service England (NHSE) to consider how the operational delivery of the return (remission) of patients (back) to prison can be improved. This work will consider learning from the Long-Term High Security Estate (LTHSE), which produced a Hospital Remission Strategy in November 2021, to ensure that remittances are smooth and accompanied by a bespoke approach to ongoing sentence management. The LTHSE Strategy takes a bespoke approach for each individual which considers their health, risk management, quality of life and, importantly, sentence progression needs. As well as identifying the most appropriate location which maximises their protective factors and minimises exposure to trigger to risk and a deterioration of health, HMPPS also consider the most appropriate progression pathway for each individual and agree this with all disciplines involved. The patient is remitted direct into the prison or service which best meets their needs, rather than via a local or reception prison. For some, this might be access to a specialist treatment service, and for others it might be that they require a specialist stabilisation service. The aim for each is to get them on the pathway most appropriate for them as swiftly as possible, in an appropriate location. This process IPP sentences: Government and Parole Board Responses to the Committee’s Third Report 5 involves collaborative pathway planning between the hospital setting and the LTHSE from the earliest possible point pre-remission and involves HMPPS Forensic Psychologists as well as mental health specialists.
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