People with intellectual disabilities hospitalised by courts in England

The purpose of this paper is to describe the characteristics of individuals with intellectual disability in psychiatric hospitals in England who have been referred from the courts following charge or conviction for imprisonable offences.

Further analysis of data from the national census of psychiatric inpatients with intellectual disability or autism.

In total, 31 per cent of psychiatric inpatients with intellectual disability or autism were detained on a court order. In comparison to others they were older but fewer appeared to have severe disabilities. Fewer were hospitalised for mental illness or challenging behaviour, more for personality disorder. Rates in relation to numbers with intellectual disability in the population varied widely between regions of the country.

The census was weak on exploring the nature of the risk posed by patients. As with all censuses it is always possible that the day chosen was unusual. Groups of patients characterised by longer stays inevitably appear more prominent.

Staff with expertise in the forensic mental health skills of risk assessment and management in the context of intellectual disability will be needed to resettle these patients satisfactorily.

The study draws attention to wide variations around the country in rates of use of hospital beds. This applies as much to detention under court orders, including restriction orders, as to informal admission, raising questions about the consistency of court judgements around the country.