Released prisoner death prompts mental health plea

A coroner has called for prisoners to have mental health checks before their release after a man took his own life within a week of leaving jail.

Francis Conlin, 23, from Middlesbrough, was released from left HMP Doncaster on 30 September 2024 and died seven days later. His inquest heard he had a history of mental health issues and substance abuse and was thought to have autism.

Teesside and Hartlepool coroner Paul Appleton said the prison had followed a national checklist regarding physical health on the day of release, but it did not include any questions or prompts about mental health.

NHS England told the coroner such checks should have been part of an earlier release planning document.

The NHS said Conlin should have been referred to the care after custody service Reconnect and it should have started to support his transition from prison before his release.

It said the coroner's report would be shared with Practice Plus Group and the head of healthcare for HMP Doncaster.

Practice Plus Group told the coroner it had introduced its own local safeguards to its on-the-day release screenings, which now included questions and prompts about mental health and followed up any concerns.

It said it would work with the NHS to support making similar changes at a national level.

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