About 4,000 offenders England will receive targeted health sessions during their trial period under a new pilot scheme.
Offenders are much more likely to have poor physical or mental health or addiction problems, which increases the likelihood of reoffending.
A recent report England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty found that half of offenders on probation smoked, many had drug or alcohol addiction problems and most had poor mental health. They were also less likely to be screened for prostate, breast, lung or cervical cancer.
Many offenders do not receive timely help because they are not registered with a GP, meaning they often only seek help for physical or mental health problems when their symptoms have worsened and contact emergency services.
As part of a joint pilot project between the probation service and National Health Service In England, up to 4,000 offenders will receive targeted medical assistance during their probationary period. NHS doctors and nurses will work directly in probation departments and attend meetings between offenders and probation officers.
James Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reoffending Reduction, said the pilot aims to tackle “the vicious cycle of crime caused by untreated mental health problems or addiction to alcohol or drugs”.
He said: “Now a nurse or doctor can sit in the room during probation appointments, recognize warning signs earlier and quickly refer offenders to treatment or mental health services. This is a game changer. This will ensure offenders are quickly referred to services that are designed to directly address the issues fueling their offending, reduce the number of costly missed appointments and help reduce re-offending.”
The scheme is being trialled in Cambridge, Middlesbrough, Ilfracombe and Hammersmith. Health The centers, located in probation offices, will help offenders register with a GP and undergo cancer screening, as well as arrange referrals to other health services as needed.
Dr Diane Adday, director of tackling health inequalities at NHS England, said: “We know that people released from prison often have poorer health outcomes, and evidence shows that the sooner you intervene, the more likely you are to see improvements, so this new scheme is a vital step towards improving people's health.”
Gillian Merron, minister for women and mental health, said she hoped the approach would help prevent re-offending and reduce demand on the NHS.
“By offering offenders assessments and the support they need, we give them a real chance to rebuild their lives. That means healthier communities and safer streets,” she said.
Experts cautiously welcomed the scheme. Mark Day, deputy director of the Prison Reform Trust, said: “Most offending behavior is caused by addiction or mental illness, so it makes sense to integrate health services during probation to help identify and tackle the underlying causes of crime.
“People with neurodivergent conditions are disproportionately overrepresented in the justice system and may face particular barriers to accessing appropriate treatment and care. Health is already actively involved in many criminal justice settings, including youth offender teams and communication and diversion services located in police stations and courts. We welcome these pilots and hope that equal attention will be given to supporting those sentenced to community sentences and at risk of being sent to prison, as well as those released from custody.”
