ABSTRACT
Levels of mental illness amongst prisoners are high, but relatively little is known about the situation of those under probation supervision. To estimate the prevalence of both current and lifetime mental illness, an epidemiological survey was conducted on individuals under probation supervision in Lincolnshire, England. Assessment included the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and other measures of mental health. This chapter presents findings from this study, illustrating the complexity of mental illness amongst people under probation supervision. The study estimated that around 39% of individuals in this probation population were suffering from current mental illnesses, with depression and anxiety disorders being the most common. Furthermore, around 60% had substance abuse problems and around 48% had personality disorders. Lifetime mental illness, co-morbidity and dual diagnosis were also found to be high. In common with other groups of offenders, the prevalence of mental health problems in those serving community sentences is far higher than the general population.
