Public Attitudes Towards the Mental Health of
Prisoners in England and Wales
Kelsie Milligan
MIL20472646
University of Roehampton
Department of Social Sciences
April 2023
Dissertation submitted in part fulfilment for the requirements of the BSc
Criminology Degree.
Word count: 8038
1
,.
Abstract
This dissertation explored the attitudes and knowledge of the general public regarding three sections:
Mental Health, The Prison System in England and Wales, and The Mental Health of Prisoners in England
and Wales. The study was guided by the research question: ‘What are the attitudes and knowledge of
the general public in England and Wales towards the mental health of prisoners?’ A mixed-methods
approach was used, incorporating a literature review, a structured closed-question questionnaire sent
to members of the public, and an analysis of the survey data. The findings reveal that public attitudes
towards the mental health of prisoners are complex, with a significant amount of misinformation and
misconceptions surrounding mental health in the context of incarceration. These findings have
important implications for the provision of mental health care and support for individuals in custody,
highlighting the need for greater education and awareness-raising initiatives to address the stigma and
misconceptions regarding mental health in the criminal justice system within England and Wales.
2
,.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my supervisor Mark McCormack for his exceptional support and guidance during
the process of writing my dissertation. His feedback has always been very helpful, and this has been
very appreciated during this research project.
I would like to thank both my family and my boyfriend’s family for their continued support. Their belief
in me has been a great motivator for me to complete university.
Additionally, I would like to thank a special person in my life, Christine Dale for her continued support
and help during my dissertation and time at the university. Christine has provided continued help with
research and guidance with my assessments. Her belief in me has helped me with my confidence in my
work.
Finally, another special person I would like to thank is my partner Harry for his continued support and
belief in me for the whole duration of my time at the university. Without his support, I never would have
been able to complete the dissertation.
3
, .
Tables of Contents
Public Attitudes Towards the Mental Health of Prisoners in England and Wales............1
Abstract..........................................................................................................................2
Acknowledgements......................................................................................................3
List of Figures/Tables...................................................................................................5
1. Introduction.............................................................................................................6
1.1 Aims and Objectives..............................................................................................6
2. Literature Review..................................................................................................7
2.1 Public attitudes towards mental health.................................................................7
2.2 Public attitudes towards prisons............................................................................8
2.3 Mental Health amongst Prisons.............................................................................9
2.4 Public attitudes towards Mental Health of Prisoners..............................................9
3. Methodology.......................................................................................................10
3.1 Primary Research................................................................................................10
3.2 Quantitative Research.........................................................................................11
3.3 Ensuring Rigour...................................................................................................11
11
3.4 Population Sampling and Recruitment Process...................................................11
3.5 Data Analysis.......................................................................................................12
3.6 Ethical Considerations.........................................................................................12
3.7 Reflection of Fieldwork........................................................................................13
3.8 Conclusion:..........................................................................................................13
4 Findings...............................................................................................................15
4.1 Public attitudes towards mental health...............................................................15
4.2 Public attitudes towards prisons..........................................................................16
4.3 Public Attitudes towards Mental Health among Prisoners...................................17
5 Discussion............................................................................................................19
6 Conclusion...........................................................................................................21
7 Bibliography:...........................................................................................................22
8 Appendix...................................................................................................................24
Appendix 1: Ethics Form............................................................................................24
Appendix 2: Questionnaire........................................................................................35
Appendix 3: Consent Form........................................................................................53
Appendix 4: Information Sheet..................................................................................55
4
Prisoners in England and Wales
Kelsie Milligan
MIL20472646
University of Roehampton
Department of Social Sciences
April 2023
Dissertation submitted in part fulfilment for the requirements of the BSc
Criminology Degree.
Word count: 8038
1
,.
Abstract
This dissertation explored the attitudes and knowledge of the general public regarding three sections:
Mental Health, The Prison System in England and Wales, and The Mental Health of Prisoners in England
and Wales. The study was guided by the research question: ‘What are the attitudes and knowledge of
the general public in England and Wales towards the mental health of prisoners?’ A mixed-methods
approach was used, incorporating a literature review, a structured closed-question questionnaire sent
to members of the public, and an analysis of the survey data. The findings reveal that public attitudes
towards the mental health of prisoners are complex, with a significant amount of misinformation and
misconceptions surrounding mental health in the context of incarceration. These findings have
important implications for the provision of mental health care and support for individuals in custody,
highlighting the need for greater education and awareness-raising initiatives to address the stigma and
misconceptions regarding mental health in the criminal justice system within England and Wales.
2
,.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my supervisor Mark McCormack for his exceptional support and guidance during
the process of writing my dissertation. His feedback has always been very helpful, and this has been
very appreciated during this research project.
I would like to thank both my family and my boyfriend’s family for their continued support. Their belief
in me has been a great motivator for me to complete university.
Additionally, I would like to thank a special person in my life, Christine Dale for her continued support
and help during my dissertation and time at the university. Christine has provided continued help with
research and guidance with my assessments. Her belief in me has helped me with my confidence in my
work.
Finally, another special person I would like to thank is my partner Harry for his continued support and
belief in me for the whole duration of my time at the university. Without his support, I never would have
been able to complete the dissertation.
3
, .
Tables of Contents
Public Attitudes Towards the Mental Health of Prisoners in England and Wales............1
Abstract..........................................................................................................................2
Acknowledgements......................................................................................................3
List of Figures/Tables...................................................................................................5
1. Introduction.............................................................................................................6
1.1 Aims and Objectives..............................................................................................6
2. Literature Review..................................................................................................7
2.1 Public attitudes towards mental health.................................................................7
2.2 Public attitudes towards prisons............................................................................8
2.3 Mental Health amongst Prisons.............................................................................9
2.4 Public attitudes towards Mental Health of Prisoners..............................................9
3. Methodology.......................................................................................................10
3.1 Primary Research................................................................................................10
3.2 Quantitative Research.........................................................................................11
3.3 Ensuring Rigour...................................................................................................11
11
3.4 Population Sampling and Recruitment Process...................................................11
3.5 Data Analysis.......................................................................................................12
3.6 Ethical Considerations.........................................................................................12
3.7 Reflection of Fieldwork........................................................................................13
3.8 Conclusion:..........................................................................................................13
4 Findings...............................................................................................................15
4.1 Public attitudes towards mental health...............................................................15
4.2 Public attitudes towards prisons..........................................................................16
4.3 Public Attitudes towards Mental Health among Prisoners...................................17
5 Discussion............................................................................................................19
6 Conclusion...........................................................................................................21
7 Bibliography:...........................................................................................................22
8 Appendix...................................................................................................................24
Appendix 1: Ethics Form............................................................................................24
Appendix 2: Questionnaire........................................................................................35
Appendix 3: Consent Form........................................................................................53
Appendix 4: Information Sheet..................................................................................55
4
