ABSTRACT
The problems of mentally disordered offenders are not going to go away for ever when an effective project or system is in place. The needs of those people will still have to be addressed in a coherent and united way. The issue of mentally disordered offenders is generating high levels of interest in the media and among the public. An agreed policy and procedures manual, adhered to by every agency, which will protect the rights and safeguard the interests of every mentally disordered offender, would help to ensure a secure future for diversion from custody. An agreement on policies or procedures will go a large part of the way to ensuring a better outcome than custody for mentally disordered offenders, but it is co-operation and flexibility which completes the picture of success. Diversion from custody for mentally disordered offenders may cease to be a fashionable course.
