IN-CJ Newsdesk – The Management of Mental Health in Bermuda Department of Corrections
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | TuneIn | RSS
In this session from the IN-CJ Newsdesk 2022, Keeva Joell-Benjamin, Commissioner of Corrections for the Bermuda Department of Corrections, discusses how management of mental health clients is supported within a framework of collaborating stakeholder partners, and how transition to the community is facilitated through a regular meeting with those stakeholders, and by multi-skilled staff who support people at times of acute need.
This IN-CJ Newsdesk session explored how the Bermuda Department of Corrections manages the complex needs of prisoners with mental health challenges, and how inter-agency collaboration plays a crucial role in both care and reintegration.
Bermuda’s correctional system is small, comprising three facilities – maximum security, minimum/farm, and a co-educational prison. Around 16% of inmates are identified as having mental health needs, many with co-occurring substance misuse issues. All prisoners are screened on entry, and those requiring care are referred to psychiatrists from the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI). Case plans include continuity of medication, therapy, and preparation for reintegration.
The discussion highlighted significant challenges: limited specialised facilities on the island, the risk of homelessness, lack of family support, and the need in some cases for overseas treatment. Despite these difficulties, Bermuda has developed strong collaborative structures. The Mental Health Clients and Corrections Committee (MHCC) brings together corrections, MWI, court services, housing, and financial assistance providers for monthly case planning. The High-Risk Offender Management Team coordinates responses for serious offenders with mental health needs, linking police, probation, and mental health professionals.
Best practices include inter-agency information-sharing, staff training in mental health awareness, and legislation that allows prisoners to be transferred to secure mental health facilities where necessary. The Mental Health Treatment Court was highlighted as a particularly effective innovation, enabling magistrates to combine sentencing with tailored treatment plans.
Testimonies showed that with the right support, individuals with complex needs can reintegrate successfully into the community. The Bermuda experience demonstrates that even in small jurisdictions with limited resources, collaboration, care, and continuity are essential to effective mental health management in corrections.
Listen to the full discussion in IN-CJ Newsdesk – The Management of Mental Health in Bermuda Department of Corrections.
