The CJMH group, between 2007-2009, has been commissioned to undertake three health needs assessments of different groups of offenders: those on probation; prisoners serving a short sentence (less than 12 months) and finally children and adolescents in secure settings. A generic health needs assessment tool has been developed that includes the SF 36 (quality of life); short assessment schedules for drug and alcohol misuse (CAGE and UNCOPE) and items related to accessing and using health services. For more details of ASHNO please contact Professor Charlie Brooker (cbrooker@alincoln.ac.uk).

Our three separate reports can be downloaded below and currently we are writing up a paper that combines the data from these three different samples. The HNA for probation has already been published (see reference below).

Brooker,C., Fox,C., Barrett,P and Syson-Nibbs,L (2009) A health needs assessment of offenders on probation: report of a pilot study Journal of Probation, Vol 56, March, No 1, 45-59

• A Health Needs Assessement of Offenders on Probation Caseloads in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire (PDF)

• Health Needs Assessment of Children in Secure Settings in the East Midlands (PDF)

• Health Needs Assessment of Short Sentence Prisoners (PDF)

We would like to thank the East Midlands Development Centre for commissioning this work on behalf of the East Midlands PCTs and Carl Finch, in particular, for his helpful support.