Care or Custody?

In recent years there has been growing concern and controversy surrounding the care and treatment of mentally disordered offenders. Consequently, there have been a series of legislative and policy developments in the 1990s, which have led to changes in attitude and the way that such offender-patients are treated. Such changes have focused primarily upon timely therapeutic intervention and diversion from the criminal justice system. This book considers these issues. It identifies some of the practical difficulties that occur when mentally disordered offenders come into contact with the criminal justice system. The law in this area is complex and this book should enable professionals involved in the subject to gain a better understanding of the law and policy with regard to mentally disordered offenders. Judith Laing also analyzes and addresses some of the theoretical issues and concerns surrounding the treatment and detention of mentally disordered offenders. The book should therefore assist and inform legal, mental health, and related practitioners working in this field, and should also provide a theoretical overview of the law for academics and students.

Academics and professionals will find this a very thoughtful and well researched work. Academics will find the historical coverage a highly useful teaching resorce; and practitioners will be heartened to read of the successful outcomes of diversion as practised in a variety of forms and settings in Yorkshire ... libraries (both academic and agency based) should be encouraged to purchase the book. If you want to know about diversion, its recent history and its implementation this is the book to read as a stimulus to further thought., The chapters on Developments of diversion policy and on Diversion under the Mental Health Act are both interesting and informative. ...Her knowledge of the literature is outstanding and her references and bibliography are likely to be a major source of information for some time to come., It is one of the calamities of our age that so little research has been done on the mentally disordered offender and Judith Laing's research is to be welcomed., The greatest stregth of the book is as a resource, for there is no doubt that Judith Laing knows her subject. I am sure this book will be needed for some considerable time., This is an excellent book and Laing is to be congratulated for putting together a truly intelligent book.

Judith Laing is a Lecturer in Law at Cardiff Law School, University of Wales, Cardiff