Mind launches mental health toolkit for prosecutors and advocates
Posted 10.10.11 by Comms@MHPF
Mind has launched the first mental health toolkit for prosecutors and advocates, providing them with the tools and knowledge needed to ensure access to justice for people with mental health problems. The new practical guide, which was funded by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the Law Society Charity and the Bar Council, has been designed to complement the CPS’s prosecution guidance on mental health and offers easily accessible information and advice about mental distress to aid decision-making during case preparation and at court.
In 2007, the mental health charity’s Another Assault research found that while people with experience of mental distress are more likely to be the victims of crime they are too frequently denied access to justice. The report revealed that when people report crimes they are often not taken seriously by the authorities who should be there to help them, as they are deemed to be unreliable or non-credible witnesses.
Find out further information about the Mind mental health toolkit for prosecutors and advocates