Mental Health in Prison: A Trauma Perspective on Importation and Deprivation (original) (raw)

Abstract Prison is primarily intended as a punishment for criminal acts. It is an establishment which aims to punish those who commit crime, protect the public from crime and criminals, and reform criminals into law abiding citizens, thus reduce re-offending. It has however, been reported that imprisonment increases vulnerabilities and heightens mental ill health. Studies across a variety of counties have reported that the prevalence of mental illness in prison far exceeds that of the general population.