AIM Case Study: Addressing the Mental Health Crisis in Prisons

These figures highlight the growing complexity of managing safety in custody and the increasing need for faster, more preventative action. Globally, the challenge is even more stark. Research published in Systematic Reviews

(Springer Nature) found that between 2000 and 2021, there were 29,711 suicides across 82 prison systems, with rates consistently higher than in the general population, typically ranging from 24 to 89 per 100,000 person-years.

Traditional approaches rely heavily on:

• Self-disclosure from prisoners

• Manual observation

• Fragmented data across multiple systems

This creates a critical gap: early warning signs are often missed, particularly when individuals withdraw quietly rather than present an obvious risk.

Staff need a way to:

• Identify vulnerability earlier

• Build a clearer, real-time picture of behaviour

• Intervene before the crisis point

Using a simple traffic-light system, AIM flags individuals who show signs of disengagement, such as reduced visits, missed meals, or inactivity, helping staff prioritise support where it’s needed most.

Key Results

An evaluation by Professor Danielle McDermott (October 2025), The Use of Technology in Detecting Risk of Self-Harm & Suicide in Prison: An Independent Evaluation of AIM, demonstrates that AIM delivers measurable improvements in prisoner safety:

How AIM Works in Practice

Daily Monitoring

Staff routinely review AIM dashboards to identify individuals whose behaviour has changed, ensuring no one “falls through the gaps.”

Early Intervention

Flags, such as missed meals, reduced engagement, or withdrawal from activities, prompt welfare checks before issues escalate. 

First 72 Hours Safeguarding

Early Risk Indicators highlight vulnerabilities during reception, ensuring immediate action for high-risk individuals.

Multi-Agency Collaboration AIM is used in:

Impact on Staff & Prisoners

Independent Validation & HMIP Recognition

AIM’s impact is evidenced not only through independent academic evaluation, but also across multiple HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) reports.

HMIP has identified AIM as “positive practice”, including:

Inspectors found that AIM:

Crucially, HMIP noted that AIM enables staff to:

“Identify potential increases in isolation or self-harm risk and take appropriate action to safeguard individuals”

This consistent recognition across multiple inspections reinforces AIM’s role as a proven, innovative approach to safer custody

Why It Matters

Self-harm and suicide in custody remain among the most urgent challenges facing the justice system.

AIM addressed this by:

It represents a shift from: