Troubled Inside is a three year Prison Reform Trust campaign. It aims to effect change by exploring and publicising the experiences of offenders with learning disabilities and learning difficulties who come into contact with the criminal justice system. The work is guided by people with learning disabilities who have been in trouble with the police and professionals and academics from health and social care, learning and skills and criminal justice.

Latest news

Ministers outline steps to keeping “Care not custody” promise

24/04/2012 13:55:00

The Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and the Justice Minister Crispin Blunt have outlined the progress made towards diverting people with mental health needs from the justice system into treatment and care at a Westminster reception on 23 April.

The ministers detailed steps taken towards the creation of a national liaison and diversion service for vulnerable offenders by 2014, backed by Department of Health investment of £50 million towards its development and evaluation.

New facts and figures reveal many solutions to crime lie outside prison bars

29/06/2011 00:01:00

Community penalties are now outperforming short prison sentences, according to statistics released today from the latest edition of the Prison Reform Trust’s Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile. If government succeeds in reforming the justice system, building on the success of community measures including diversion into health treatment where appropriate, and holding prison numbers to an unavoidable minimum, it could deliver on its promise of a “rehabilitation revolution”.

State must keep Care Not Custody promise

30/03/2011 10:43:00

We welcome the commitment of the health secretary, Andrew Lansley, and the justice secretary, Ken Clarke, to divert people with mental health needs away from the justice system where possible and to improve treatment and support in the community (£5m scheme to divert mentally ill offenders from prison, 28 March). Many men, women and children in prison have two or more mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, many others struggle with a learning disability, and significant numbers have severe and ongoing illnesses such as schizophrenia and personality disorders. Prison healthcare is too often a catch-all for people who would be better cared for outside the criminal justice system.

Ken Clarke and Andrew Lansley announce plans for ‘Care Not Custody’

29/03/2011 12:00:00

Following a three year campaign led by the WI in partnership with the Prison Reform Trust, the health secretary Andrew Lansley and the justice secretary Ken Clarke have announced plans for setting up a national service for the diversion of the mentally ill from the justice system into treatment and care.

Justice green paper a 'blueprint for moderate and sensible reform'

08/12/2010 17:03:00

The Ministry of Justice green paper is a blueprint for moderate and sensible reform and should mark the end of sterile debate on toughness or softness on crime. Rather than settling for policy-making on the hoof or enduring a crisis-driven justice system, the Secretary of State for justice has opened a proper consultation on sentencing and rehabilitation based on evidence of what works.

PRT response to government's action plan on offender health

17/11/2009 12:36:00

"This action plan charts the way for many vulnerable people out of the criminal justice maze into health and social care. It will come as a relief to so many families who have sought help in vain to know that their relatives will be assessed and treated at last."

Bradley calls for new approach to offenders with mental illness and learning disabilities

30/04/2009 12:42:00

A new approach to dealing with mentally ill offenders and those with learning disabilities could prevent this vulnerable group being caught in the revolving door of the criminal justice system. It could cut crime, improve health, reduce police and court workloads and free up prison places for serious and violent offenders, according to Lord Bradley's independent review published today and welcomed by the Prison Reform Trust.

Coroner says mentally ill prisoner's death was 'avoidable'

09/02/2009 14:53:00

An inquest jury ruled today that the death of Michael Bailey a 23 year old inmate who was found hanged in his cell in the segregation unit of HMP Rye Hill in March 2005 could have been avoided.

Assistant deputy coroner, Tom Osborne, said Mr Bailey's death was avoidable and branded as "shameful" the fact that he had not been transferred to hospital despite mental health problems.

Thousands of mentally ill people regularly dumped in and out of the prison system

04/02/2009 11:46:00

Too Little, Too Late: An Independent Review of Unmet Mental Health Need in Prison, published by the Prison Reform Trust, reveals that many people who should have been diverted into mental health or social care from police stations or courts are entering prisons, which are ill equipped to meet their needs, and then being discharged back into the community without any support.

WI votes to call a halt to the inappropriate imprisonment of the mentally ill

30/06/2008 12:51:00

Following three months of debate in every branch in England and Wales, delegates at the WI national conference in Liverpool voted overwhelmingly - 6,205 in favour and 173 against - to call a halt to the inappropriate imprisonment of the mentally ill.