ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a critical analysis of the Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder (DSPD) programme and its successor, the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway (OPDP). The DSPD programme was established by New Labour in 2001 to test treatment, management and risk assessment techniques for individuals thought to pose a high risk of serious offending stemming from a severe personality disorder. While the programme appeared to achieve some successes, definitive conclusions on its effectiveness could not be drawn without a control group. Furthermore, the units experienced significant staffing and operational difficulties and progress through the programme was slow. This chapter explores the long history of attempts by expert groups, policymakers and practitioners to respond to the challenges posed by personality disordered offenders and examines the reasons behind the mixed results of the pilot DSPD programme. This will form the basis for a critical analysis of the ability of the OPDP to meet the potentially conflicting aims of improving health outcomes for offenders, managing a difficult group in institutions and protecting the public.
