Mildly mentally handicapped offenders: an alternative to custody CHRISTINEJOHNSON,Formerly Registrar in Forensic Psychiatry; JEANETTESMITH,

Concern is increasingly being expressed about the lack of provision for mentally disordered offenders, who by default end up within the penal system. Gunn et al (1991) in a study of sentenced prisoners identified a significant number who were mentally disordered to be in need of psychiatric treatment. Among these, 0.4 % were considered to be mentally handicapped. Recent reports have emphasised the importance of diverting these individuals from the criminal justice system (Woolf &Tumin, 1991;Home Office, 1990; British Medical Association, 1990). However, the majority of such offenders do not fulfil the criteria for admission to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983. Most are not overtly men tally ill and do not require treatment in condition