Catalogue description Committee on Mentally Abnormal Offenders: Minutes, Evidence and Papers

The Committee on Mentally Abnormal Offenders was set up on 21 September 1972 by the Home Secretary, Mr Reginald Maudling, and the Secretary of State for Social Services, Sir Keith Joseph, under the chairmanship of Lord Butler, with the following terms of reference: (a) To consider to what extent and on what criteria the law should recognise mental disorder or abnormality in a person accused of a criminal offence as a factor affecting his liability to be tried or convicted, and his disposal; (b) To consider what, if any, changes are necessary in the powers, procedure and facilities relating to the provision of appropriate treatment, in prison, hospital or the community, for offenders suffering from mental disorder or abnormality, and to their discharge and aftercare; and to make recommendations.

The Butler Committee submitted an Interim Report on 20 April 1974 and published its Final Report in October 1975 (Cmnd.6244).