MAPPA: changes to chapter 26 on mentally disordered offenders
Chapter 26 of the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) on Mentally Disordered Offenders has been rewritten and now includes more detail than previous versions.
The fundamental practice has not been changed but the revised chapter clarifies the processes that mental health services must follow when a MAPPA eligible offender is detained for treatment in hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983.
This chapter is primarily written for mental health practitioners and the addition of the ‘Mentally Disordered Offenders who are MAPPA offenders’ section provides details regarding MAPPA.
This includes sections on the MAPPA eligibility criteria, MAPPA management, lead agency, transferred prisoners, MAPPA and tribunals and the identification of MAPPA offenders that was not covered in previous versions.
Further information is also provided on the notification process and the MAPPA I form (initial notification of MAPPA eligible patients). Details regarding patient leave and community management, making a referral into level 2 and 3, level 1 management and liaison and attendance at MAPPA meetings, exit from MAPPA and absconds have also been included.
The chapter has also been restructured to provide detail of the hospital orders available under the Mental Health Act 1983, followed by the Secretary of State’s responsibilities and the role of the Tribunal. It then contains the section referring to Mentally Disordered Offenders and MAPPA providing a more logical structure to the chapter.
Chapter 26 can be found on the MAPPA website: https://mappa.justice.gov.uk/connect.ti/MAPPA/view?objectId=271411
Professionals who manage MAPPA offenders are also able to join a password protected community on the MAPPA website by clicking register in the top righthand corner.