Development and evaluation of a screening tool for identifying prisoners with severe mental illness

Abstract

Aims and MethodTo develop and evaluate a screening tool based on the observational skills of prison officers to identify adult male prisoners with severe mental illness. The tool was developed from open-ended interviews with officers and diagnostic interviews with prisoners. A case–comparison study was used to evaluate the tool. Fifty prisoners identified using the tool and 50 randomly selected prisoners underwent diagnostic interviews to determine the proportion in each group with severe mental illness.ResultsFive behavioural indicators of severe mental illness were identified and incorporated into the tool. In the evaluation, 19 out of 50 (38%) of the cases identified were found to have severe mental illness compared with none in the comparison group.Clinical ImplicationsThe simple tool shows promise for the identification of prisoners with severe mental illness by prison officers. It does require further evaluation in other prison settings.

Identification of mental illness in police cells: a comparison of police processes, the Brief Jail Mental Health Screen and the Jail Screening Assessment Tool

“…For example, detainees suspected of experiencing a mental illness by police officers were referred to services for further evaluation (James, 2000;Scott et al, 2009). While prison officers have been found to correctly identify up to 40% of prisoners with severe mental illness (Birmingham & Mullee, 2005), the accuracy of such assessments made by police officers has not been empirically evaluated. The identification of detainees with a mental illness by police can play an integral role in the safety and well-being of detainees by supplementing the work of medical services in custody (Gibbs, 1986;Steadman, McCarty, & Morrissey, 1989).…”

Health screening in police custody

“…[2][3][4][5][6] There is limited research, however, into the incidence of physical or mental health conditions in police detainees, and even less into the efficacy of health screening in this setting. A study of police custody detainees in London in the 1990s found that 1.2% showed signs of schizophrenia, affective disorders, and organic conditions.…”

A Comparison of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness in Male Offenders in Jamaica and England and Wales

“…Additionally, persons may develop mental illness while incarcerated. Appropriate identification and placement of mentally ill persons is important in the treatment, follow-up and rehabilitation of these individuals (10,11). Furthermore, many low-and middle-income countries do not have well-developed, formal prison healthcare services (12).…”