A controversial pilot project running in the U.K. since 1999 to deal with dangerous offenders is facing possible termination due to limited evidence that the program has been successful. The program was implemented following the 1996 killings of Dr. Lin Russell and her six-year old daughter. The assailant, Michael Stone, had been previously diagnosed as a psychopath but could not be held under U.K. law since personality disorder was not considered to be a treatable psychiatric condition. In 1999, after the launch of a controversial new forensic scheme, four new high-security units were established. Two of these units were set up at Broadmoor and Rampton psychiatric hospitals and the other two were established at the Whitemoor and Frankland prisons. The purpose of these new units were to provide inpatient treatment for offenders deemed to be suffering from "dangerous and severe personality disorder" (DSPD). The DSPD diagnosis is controversial given that it is not a formally recognized psychiatric diagnosis but was essentially legislated into existence to provide a justification for indefinite detention of offenders formerly considered untreatable. There are currently around 300 DSPD cases being held in secure units across the U.K and an estimated 200 million British pounds have been spent on the program to date.
Although some researchers have praised the program for improving treatment services for personality-disordered offenders, the actual benefit of the program in reducing violent behaviour appears limited. Despite treatment programming including cognitive-behavioural therapy and anti-testosterone medication for sexual offenders, recent incidents have highlighted abuses at the DSPD units across the U.K. A formal review of the program and whether it should be continued is underway.
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