Psychiatry and the criminal justice system: The involvement of general and forensic psychiatrists

Abstract

We report a postal survey of all forensic and a random sample of general psychiatrists in England and Wales, concerning current and future contacts with the criminal justice system. Some form of professional contact with the criminal justice system was reported by 91% of general psychiatrists and 36% visit a magistrates' court, prison or police station at least once a month. General psychiatrists are most likely to have contact with the criminal justice system in the police station, forensic psychiatrists in the prison. The planning and operation of court diversion schemes is largely the province of forensic psychiatrists. If diversion from custody is to be successful, more emphasis must be given to the involvement of non-forensic psychiatrists, and to settings other than the magistrates' court.