The need for earlier intervention for those individuals in the criminal justice system with mental health needs has been highlighted as a key area in Lord Bradley's report and other reports. 

 The Home Office is working with the Police Service to identify changes that can be made within neighbourhood policing.  Part of this early intervention approach is also to ensure that individuals receive health support as early as possible in the criminal justice system. 

 A Criminal Justice Liaison Service can contribute to this through ensuring: 

• "swift and effective identification and assessment of mental health needs after arrest, with rapid access to treatment for people with mental health problems;
•  ensuring that arrestees with serious mental health problems can be dealt with in an appropriate environment earlier, rather than spending time on remand before their condition is diagnosed at court;
• provision of information for court services about an individual's mental health disorder, so that judiciary staff understand the impact that the individual's disorder might have on the court process; and
• if an individual's mental health problem is the primary cause of their committing low-level crime, then facilitating their access to treatment might help to avoid subsequent re-arrest." (Bradley report p41)

NHS West Midlands have commited to supporting commissioners and providers across the region to review and refresh their Criminal Justice Liaison Services. Part of this process involves reviewing the service specifications and SLA's to ensure that patients are engaged early in the Criminal Justice System.

We have worked with partners across the region to develop standardised Service Specifications and SLA Templates which can be found by clicking on the appropriate link.

NACRO have also supported us to develop an initial scoping document, this can be found here.

Colleagues in London have produced a report on the current provision of CJLS services across London. The report also provides a useful insight on the views of staff working in the court process who are often in contact with people with mental health needs.

Colleagues have also produced a report into the potential for voluntary and community sector organisations in the delivery of criminal justice and liaison services, you can access this report here.

For more information please contact Gary Holland