Yet in some ways, not much has changed. The Howard League for PenalReform is calling on the Home Secretary to start a public inquiry intothe treatment in custody of a girl with severe mental health problems(see News, p10).
The young woman, Susan, had been in and out of local authority caresince her early teens, before ending up in prison. She had a history ofalcohol and drug abuse, including at least 10 overdoses. Her mentalhealth problems were apparent by the age of 13, yet at no stage does sheappear to have received an appropriate care plan or treatment.
In prison she exhibited extreme self-harming behaviour, cutting herwrists and inserting objects into her veins, in addition to attemptingto hang herself. She has been admitted to hospital at least 20 times inthe past two years. Yet rather than placing her in a safer environmentwhere she could receive treatment, the response of the prisonauthorities was to place her in solitary confinement for longperiods.
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