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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]

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.

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

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.