Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Number of Veterans in Prison continue to rise

Reports by the Chief Inspector of Prisons show that the number of military veterans in prison has continued to rise and now stands at 7%, circa 6000+, with similar numbers estimated to be on probation / community orders. 

Prisons get urgent £10m to tackle suicide and disorder - see the Guardian http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/may/24/prisons-urgent-funds-tackle-suicide-disorder

An extra £10m is to be pumped into English and Welsh prisons to tackle a rising tide of violence and suicides, the justice secretary, Michael Gove, has announced.
Gove described the most recent suicide figures – more than 100 in the past 12 months – and increasing number of assaults and disorder in jails as “terrible” and cause for “considerable personal concern”. - http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/may/24/prisons-urgent-funds-tackle-suicide-disorder
The extra £10m is to be made immediately available to prison governors for extra prison staff; more training, including on suicide awareness; additional equipment, including body cameras and CCTV; and on additional drug testing, including for legal highs.
“I am well aware that the most recent figures for deaths in custody and violence in prisons, which the [Commons justice select] committee’s report highlights, are terrible,” he said in a letter to the committee published on Tuesday.

US Army Veterans Suicide Rate

The USA recently declared that, on average, 22 US Army Veterans were committing suicide daily.  Clearly UK numbers are no where near this total; however, it is indicative of the massive impact mental illness can have on those who have suffered traumatic experiences in combat.  Those providing therapy are struggling to meet the demand and many veteran are ending up in prison.