Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know

In this absorbing account, he traces his personal journey from ‘main grade’ probation officer, Home Office civil servant, trainer and inspector to top level positions within a number of academic institutions (notably at Leicester University and Loughborough University), with the Parole Board, key nationwide committees, mental health inquiries and beyond. His ‘reflections’ on a life geared to the improvement of knowledge and understanding in this sphere contain unique insights for practitioners and criminologists alike – and words of wisdom for a Criminal Justice System which ought to value mature reflection as it approaches the second decade of the 21st century. Describing the author as ‘one of my heroes’, well-known criminologist and broadcaster David Wilson asserts that Herschel Prins is ‘one of – if not the key figure – in Britain who pushed forward the development of criminology and forensic psychiatry’ and that he was in certain respects ‘ahead of his time’.

Author Biography

From a relatively modest background, Herschel Prins rose to become a leading exponent concerning forensic work with mentally impaired offenders. In this absorbing account, he traces his personal journey from ‘main grade’ probation officer, Home Office civil servant , trainer and inspector to top level positions within a number of academic institutions (notably at Leicester University and Loughborough University), with the Parole Board, key nationwide committees, mental health inquiries and beyond.