A event on Today. The event starts at 19:30.
This talk will explore the largely unseen mental health crisis unfolding within our prison system.
While prisons are often viewed as places of punishment and containment, they have increasingly become de facto mental health institutions, yet without the resources, training, or support required to meet this demand.
Drawing on research and practice, the session examines the prevalence of mental health conditions among incarcerated populations, the impact of isolation, overcrowding, and violence, and the systemic barriers to effective care.
The talk will also consider how stigma, underfunding, and institutional priorities contribute to the marginalisation of prisoners’ mental health needs. Particular attention is given to the lived experiences of those inside, highlighting how distress is often misunderstood or criminalised rather than treated.
Ultimately, this session invites critical reflection on the role of prisons in responding to vulnerability, and asks whether current approaches are sustainable, ethical, or just. It will be of interest to practitioners, researchers, and anyone concerned with justice, health, and social inequality.
About the host speakers
Paul Gavin is the Programme Leader on the BA(Hons) Criminology and the BSc(Hons) Criminology with Psychology degree at UWE. He is the module leader for the second year module Mental Health, Crime and Criminal Justice. He has over 20 years’ experience working in a wide range of academic, policy and research related roles.
Prior to joining UWE in 2021, he held positions at Bath Spa University, Canterbury Christchurch University and in the Department of Justice in Ireland.
Dr Cody Porter is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at UWE Bristol. Prior to entering academic she worked in NHS forensic services supporting those with complex criminal histories who were detained under the Mental Health Act.
She is a Trustee for Circles Southwest and specialises in employability for those with a criminal record. She is also an active researcher in the field of investigative interviewing and lie detection.
About the venue: Glenside Hospital Museum
Originally built as Bristol Lunatic Asylum, this fascinating museum is based in the Grade II Listed hospital chapel built in 1881. The museum explores the evolution of mental health care in Bristol via a vast array of medical curios & historic artefacts.
Entry requirements: 16+, any under 18s accompanied by 21+ adult 1:1 ratio
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