Mental Disorders in European Prison Systems: Arrangements for Mentally Disordered Prisoners in the Prison Systems of 13 European Countries

Abstract

American and European prison systems are faced with large numbers of mentally ill prisoners. It is estimated that correctional facilities in the United States house twice as many persons with serious mental illnesses as do mental hospitals (Torrey, 1995). North American studies (e.g., Roesch & Golding, 1985; Teplin, 1990) and European studies have found high prevalence rates of mental disorders in penal institutions. European studies have yielded fairly consistent findings about the prevalence rates of mental disorders in samples of unsentenced prisoners. Lifetime prevalence rates of mental disorders, including substance-related disorders and personality disorders, were found to be 71% in Denmark (Andersen, Sestoft, Lillebaek, Gabrielsen, & Kramp, 1996) and 71% in England (Birmingham, Mason, & Grubin, 1996). Current prevalence rates were found to be 64% in Denmark (Andersen et al., 1996), 62% in England (Birmingham et al., 1996), 63% in England and Wales (Brooke, Taylor, Gunn, & Maden, 1996) and 62% in Ireland (Smith, O’Neill, Tobin, Walshe, & Dooley, 1996). Thus,