Managing Personality Disordered Offenders in the Community

by John Dowsett, Jackie Craissati

Drawing on the latest evidence from the disparate worlds of mental health and criminal justice, Managing Personality Disordered Offenders in the Community provides a practical guide to the management and treatment of a group who comprise some of the most troubled offenders, who provoke the most anxiety in our society. Illustrated throughout with relevant case examples, this book provides a detailed account of key issues in the assessment of both personality disorder and offending. Dowsett and Craissati explore the current state of knowledge regarding treatment approaches, before suggesting a framework for thinking about community management, legislation, and multi-agency practice. The book concludes with a discussion of community pilot projects currently taking place throughout England and Wales. Managing Personality Disordered Offenders in the Community is an accessible and informative guide for trainees and practitioners working in the fields of mental health, social services, and the criminal justice system.

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Consultant Clinical Psychologist
M.A., Dip.Psych., AFBPsS

John Dowsett has over 20 years experience working as a Clinical Psychologist, currently specialising in the assessment and treatment of adults with severe mental health difficulties, personality disorders and sexual offences. He brings his specialist training and experience to the assessment of risk within families, adult relationships and the parent-child interaction. He has been providing independent psychological assessments for the Courts for over six years.

John Dowsett spent thirteen years as a clinical psychologist in NHS forensic services and was head of psychology for South London and Maudsley (SLAM) forensic services. He gained extensive experience in the assessment and treatment of perpetrators of physical and sexual violence. He has researched extensively and published on the management of personality disordered offenders in the community. Since 2006, he has been working in independent practice providing residential assessment and treatment in a parenting unit, providing Intensive Short-term Dynamic Psychotherapy, as well as independent psychological assessments for Courts and local authorities.