This page explains:
- What is meant by a community sentence treatment requirement (CSTR)
- How the Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion team support the use of CSTRs
- Who is eligible for support from the team around CSTRs
- How to make a referral to the team
- How to contact the team and find out more.
What is a community sentence treatment requirement?
Community sentence treatment requirements (CSTRs) aim to address the health and social care outcomes of people convicted of offences within the criminal justice system.
If someone is given a community sentence (that is, they're convicted of a crime by a court but are not sent to prison) then they may be required to seek treatment to help with problems that led them to commit crime in the first place.
There are a range of different programmes and treatments available, which are explained on the gov.uk website. CSTRs focus on supporting vulnerable offenders with mental health, alcohol and substance abuse issues. The three types of health-related CSTRs are:
- Drug Rehabilitation Requirements (DRRs)
- Alcohol Treatment Requirements (ATRs)
- Mental Health Treatment Requirements (MHTRs).
Evidence shows that the use of CSTRs can:
- Reduce offending
- Offer an alternative to custodial sentences
- Improve health and social outcomes.
How do you support the use of CSTRs?
The Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion team gives support to partners in the criminal justice system around the use of all three types of health-related CSTRs, but with a particular focus on mental health treatment requirements (MHTRs).
There are a high number of individuals with mental health issues within the criminal justice system, but the use of treatment requirements remains low. This may be due to a number of factors - including a lack of clarity about the process, problems with information sharing or uncertainty about what to do when there is a dual diagnosis (the person has more than one of the three health issues).
The Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion team will offer support and guidance both before sentencing and once a sentence has been imposed. The team internally identifies clients for whom a MHTR may be appropriate, but also takes referrals from legal representatives, Probation, the Judiciary and from individual defendants and their carers. The team will help with the screening and assessment process and with the development of an individualised care plan if the MHTR is agreed by the court.
Case study
‘Sam’ is a 19-year-old male arrested for criminal damage. Sam is offered an assessment by the Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion team following screening of the police system.
Sam has a history of anxiety and self-harm, is socially isolated and is known to have suicidal thoughts. Sam indicates that he wants help and support.
Sam pleads guilty and the case is adjourned for a pre-sentence report and consideration of a mental health treatment requirement.
Sam receives a community order with a curfew and a mental health treatment requirement. Sam must attend 12 one-to-one sessions focused on addressing his mental health difficulties, and developing anxiety management techniques to reduce the triggers that might lead him to reoffend.
Who is eligible for support from the team around CSTRs?
For a mental health treatment requirement (MHTR), the team can support adults aged 18 and over who...
- Live within the county of Derbyshire or city of Derby
- Are charged with committing an offence that falls within a Community Order / Suspended Sentence Order (SSO) range
- Have mild to moderate mental health difficulties
- Are not actively psychotic and not actively suicidal
- Consent to MTHR referral and assessment, and have expressed a willingness to comply and consent to the conditions of the MHTR
- Can receive intervention in the community i.e. they do not require hospitalisation or a section (being kept in hospital under the Mental Health Act)
- Are registered with a Derbyshire-based or Derby-based GP (or are willing to register with a Derbyshire or Derby GP).
If someone is already receiving support from secondary mental health services, the team will ask for confirmation of whether the identified mental health neesd are already being addressed.
How do I make a referral to the team?
Please download and complete the referral form. This is a Word document which you can type into and save.
Please email the completed form to dmh-tr.cjmhtmailbox@nhs.net
How do I find out more?
Please contact one of the members of the team:
Charlotte Dexter
Crown Court Practitioner
Mobile number: 07584773672
Email: charlotte.dexter1@nhs.net
Eddie O’Grady
Crown Court Practitioner
Mobile number: 07717422130
Email: eddie.o'grady@nhs.net
Georgia Griffin
Assistant Clinical Psychologist
Mobile number: 07917244234
Email: georgia.griffin2@nhs.net
Natalie Startin
Assistant Clinical Psychologist
Mobile number: 07775 220200
Email: natalie.startin@nhs.net
Harry Ager
Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist
Mobile number: 07827 257176
Email: harry.ager1@nhs.net
Office contact details
The Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion Team are based at St Andrews House (3rd floor), 201 London Road, Derby DE1 2TZ. Telephone: 01332 268490.
