‘Too many’ mentally ill in prison
Thousands of people with mental health problems are ending up in jail rather than receiving treatment, the Prison Reform Trust has said.
Offering mental health and social care instead of custody would relieve pressure on prisons and could cut reoffending rates, the trust argues.
It says figures show one in 10 inmates has a “serious mental health issue”.
The government said it had made it clear that offenders with severe mental illness should be treated not punished.