International Law

Twice the punishment

By John Hirst

"Prisoners with mental illnesses suffer neglect and alienation, as well as the sentence handed down. The WI is campaigning for change".

"Following three months of debate in every branch in England and Wales, delegates at the Women's Institute (WI) national conference in Liverpool yesterday voted overwhelmingly ? 6,205 in favour and 173 against - to call a halt to the inappropriate imprisonment of people who are mentally ill. This heralds the start of a powerful WI campaign which will see ministers, MPs, courts, health and prison authorities called upon to introduce far-reaching reforms.

It is difficult to think of anywhere more likely to make the mentally ill worse and drive some people to despair than the bleak, impersonal environment of an overcrowded prison. Last year alone 92 people committed suicide in prison and over 22,000 harmed themselves repeatedly".

Full post as published by prisonlawinsideout on June 07, 2008 (boomark / email).