To read this content please select one of the options below:

Beyond the gate: supporting the employment aspirations of offenders with mental health conditions

Graham Durcan (Based at the Centre for Mental Health, London, UK)

Mental Health and Social Inclusion

ISSN: 2042-8308

Article publication date: 23 November 2012

322

Abstract

Purpose

Around 90 per cent of offenders have a mental health problem, personality disorder or addiction, and most have two or more such problems. One of the most effective ways of preventing reoffending and improving the life chances of an offender is through achieving and maintaining employment, however very few people leaving prison will have employment on release from prison. This paper aims to focus on these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes an investigation conducted by the Centre for Mental Health into employment opportunities for offenders with mental health problems on release from prison.

Findings

The investigation revealed that, although offenders with mental health problems are less likely than other prisoners to be included in employment programmes, evidenced‐based approaches such as individual placement and support offer huge potential. The investigation identified five principles for employment programmes supporting this group: employers should play an instrumental role in creating opportunities; recruitment should be pragmatic, based on attitude and “character” rather than qualifications or health status; support should be offered to employees and their employers/managers for as long as they need it; opportunities for “pre‐ employment” and “in work” skills development should be linked to real employment opportunities; and criminal justice and other statutory agencies should facilitate effective pathways to real work and skills development.

Practical implications

There is a need to develop more employment programmes for offenders with mental health problems that incorporate evidenced‐based approaches such as individual placement and support, and a number of key principles identified in this investigation.

Originality/value

The investigation that this paper describes is the first to consider as its main focus evidence‐based employment interventions for people with mental health problems leaving prison or engaged with other parts of the criminal justice system.

Keywords

Citation

Durcan, G. (2012), "Beyond the gate: supporting the employment aspirations of offenders with mental health conditions", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. 16 No. 4, pp. 188-193. https://doi.org/10.1108/20428301211281041

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Related articles