Mental health courts can reduce crime and cut costs

The cost of crime could be slashed by up to £180m a year while criminals with mental health issues would get better care if the way they were treated in the justice system underwent a radical overhaul, according to a report by the think tank Policy Exchange.

The 'Inside Out' report claimed that mental health courts have been shown to deliver a "significant reduction" in reoffending, which could mean the number of re-offenders in England and Wales would fall by 1,500 to 2,700 a year, saving between £95m and £180m.

The report added that the Home Office's own research showed that money could be saved by giving more offenders community rather than custodial sentences – the average cost of a custodial sentence is £13,000 a head while a community order costs between £1500 and £4000. Even with mental health treatment included the community order option is still cheaper.

Click here to read the rest of this item from PublicService.co.uk