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An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue on topics including criminal justice, forensic mental health workers, and child sexual abuse.

This contribution attempts to explore the use of a variety of literary sources as aids or 'prompts' to understanding those offenders and offender-patients whose mental states often raise considerable anxieties in those charged with their management. The word 'prompt' is borrowed from the work of my friend, the late doctor Murray Cox, and his co-worker Alice Theilgaard in their seminal work Shakespeare as Prompter (1994). The author of the present article hopes that its content will enable readers to focus more clearly on why we sometimes fail our offenders and offender-patients; in particular, through the mechanism of denial. The use of dramatic presentation when proffered with a unique blend of force and sensitivity can permit us to view puzzlement and horror from a safe distance and, at the same time, encourage us to increase our empathic understanding and professional practice. Most of the examples cited are brief allusions but, because her history is so compellingly applicable to our concerns in the present contribution, the 'case' of Lady Macbeth is considered in more detail. Finally, I would note some very wise words by Cox and Theilgaard (1994) in a caveat note to the reader: 'Should the focus on therapy ever become occluded by preoccupation with poetic association, clinical skills would be diminished, distraction ensue and therapeutic contact deteriorate' (not numbered). In the material that follows readers should bear such a cautionary note in mind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers both a literature review, and perspectives on the definition and nature of depressive illness, its various modes of presentation, and its significance in male, female and adolescent populations. It provides a brief review of some of the ideas about the aetiology of depression, outlines how to recognize it and discusses its relevance to forensic populations. Finally it suggests how early detection of depression and, consequently, more adequate access to treatment intervention, can be facilitated. Unfortunately, the presence of depression is sometimes overlooked and therefore missed (particularly in males) sometimes with tragic consequences for the sufferer and for society. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A personal narrative is presented which explores the author's experience of working for over 50 years in the fields of criminal justice and forensic psychiatry.

The article discusses the Mental Health Act 2007 in relation to Mental Health Act in 1959 and 1983 in the U.S. It is stated that the 1959 Act introduced several important innovations such as the power for magistrates and the introduction of Mental Health Review Tribunals. It also introduced definitions of mental disorder and its sub-categories. Meanwhile, the 1983 Act launched the Mental Health Act Commission with the significant function to examine complaints from detained patients. Both Bills received considerable mauling in the parliamentary process which suggested an analogy akin to that of matrimony. Some forensic aspects of the 2007 Act were also presented. It made many useful amendments to previous legislation.

The report into the care, treatment, and supervision of Michael Stone is commented upon; special attention is paid to questions of anonymity, confidentiality, inter-agency communication, and media conduct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The December 2006 edition of Probation Journal contained an article by David Smith entitled 'Making sense of psychoanalysis in criminological theory and probation practice'. This paper attempts to extend the parameters of Smith's discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution is essentially a highly selective, personal and anecdotal account of some 55 years' experience of working in the criminal justice and forensic-psychiatric (mental health) fields. It makes no pretence of being an academic presentation; thus only a modest number of references are cited in the text. The article makes no attempt at being all-inclusive; for this reason it could be criticised for being somewhat idiosyncratic. Those seeking further information concerning some of the examples cited may care to consult the brief personal bibliography at the end of the text and the references. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the problems inherent in demonstrating the relationships between mentally-disordered states and crimes of violence. Particular mental states are selected, somewhat arbitrarily, for this purpose. The article argues that such relationships also need to be considered against current social cancerns with public protection and risk prevention in the light of media influences. Practice concerns are addressed throughout the article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the withholding of psychotherapy from violent and abusive psychiatric hospital patients in Great Britain's National Health Service. Rhetoric of violence; Man's potential for cruelty and destructiveness; Significant threats of risk of serious injury.

There are three themes in this short paper. First, a brief historical context; second, the semantics of 'dangerousness' and 'risk'; third, some issues that emerge from recent inquiries into homicides committed by persons known to the psychiatric service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there is an abundance of literature dealing with the techniques of work with offenders and offender-patients, less attention has been paid to alternative and additional means of invoking empathy and insight into behaviours that often produce anxiety, confusion and, on occasion, abhorrence. This article attempts to redress the balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the management of severely psychopathically disordered individuals in Great Britain. Need for public protection; Risk of causing harm to other individuals; Increase of crimes.

Now in his 86th year, the author offers brief comments on some of the differences in the setting and practice of probation compared with those described by Jake Phillips in a recent issue of Probation Journal (Phillips, 2014). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Some problems involved in the one-to-one management of offenders and offender-patients demonstrating severe personality disorder (psychopathic disorder) are reviewed against a background of current public and central government concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The offence of arson is examined within a very brief cultural and historical context; reference is made to the law and the size of the problem in the UK and elsewhere. Some typologies are put forward and proffered for improving understanding and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dangerous behaviour, for the purpose of this paper is confined to the commission of serious harm to others and not to self. Such behaviour is examined within the context of definnitions of such behaviour, and issues that arise in respect of sentencing (including past and current practices). Certain ethical issues are considered and the paper concludes with a detailed consideration of aspects of management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some characteristics, drawn from a small sample of the series 'Pioneers in Forensic Psychiatry' and from a postal enquiry to thirty-seven UK consultant forensic psychiatrists are described; an attempt is made to provide a limited 'profile'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brief comment is offered on Crichton's paper on the literary presentation of delusional jealousy as suggested in Othello. It is proposed that, if the Othello allusion is considered to be inappropriate, it might be wiser to describe the condition as the ‘Leontes Syndrome’. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article places risk assessment and management in criminal justice and mental health in brief historical context. It then considers concepts of risk and dangerousness, before examining the extent to which being ‘wise after the event’ may be helpful. Ways in which risk assessment and management might be improved and attempts to de-mystify the process are then discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In psychology … and in chemistry as well-what we are really analysing are not substances, but properties … I understand not attributes inherent in substances, but simply relations manifested under certain standard conditions. (Burt, Frontiers ofthe Mind, 1940: 17-1 8) [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The diversion of the mentally disordered from the criminal justice and penal systems needs to be seen against the background of the management of the mentally disordered in general and of mentally disordered offenders in particular. The implications of diversion are discussed with special reference to the future of prison and prison medical services. Some jurisprudential issues are raised for further debate. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article describes briefly background material on personality disorders in general and the clinical condition of psychopathic disorder in particular. A selection of the main characteristics of psychopathic disorder are then described followed by some observations on etiology. The article concludes with a description of a survey of forensic/psychiatric professionals from whom opinion was sought regarding this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article describes the legal and administrative framework for the supervision of potentially dangerous offender-patients in England and Wales and some of the practical problems involved in such supervision. The article is clinical rather than epidemiological and statistical in its orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The present contribution seeks to complement, up-date and amplify material presented in an earlier paper in this Journal (Prins, 1975) concerned with the management of dangerous and potentially dangerous clients (in this case, offender-patients). An attempt is made to define the clientele considered to be at high risk of committing further acts of serious harm. Some brief observations are made upon the nature of dangerous behaviour and risk. The author then examines in more detail those factors and circumstances that may lead to the repetition of such behaviour and offers some suggestions for its reduction. The paper's orientation is clinical rather than empirical or epidemiological. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The intention in this review is to examine a small selection of the literature on substance abuse and to assess to what extent it is a new phenomenon and a problem calling for legislative action. This intention accounts for the slightly capricious choice of title for the contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Adult fire-raising (arson) is reviewed in brief historical text and some legal and statistical issues are discussed. A classification system is suggested followed by a brief discussion of motivation and management of this type of offender. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article explores briefly the use of classical and modern literature as an aid to understanding those mentally disordered offenders who not infrequently raise anxiety, and sometimes fear, in those charged with their management. Reference is made also to other media as aids in this process. Literature is the one place in any society, where, within the secrecy of our own heads, we can hear voices talking about everything in every possible way. (Salman Rushdie, unpublished lecture) [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article comments on the trial in Great Britain of two ten-year-old boys who kidnapped and murdered a toddler. The killing of small children by other children is a rare event that arouses much anxiety. Mental health professionals explained the behavior of the boys in terms of family background, psychopathology and neurological impairment. The judge t the trial thought that the incident may have been the result of viewing nasty videos.

The article offers insights into the supervision of potentially dangerous offender patients. The author notes that supervision needs a high degree of surveillance, an acknowledgement of the importance of accountability to the public and central government and of good relationship practices with close professional colleagues. The types of patients consist of those who have committed serious offenses of violence against the person and against property and who have the potential to do so again. He adds that it is important to overcome a reluctance to ask uncomfortable questions and to be aware of one of the difficult area of psychiatric practice.