Is the subtitle here an oxymoron? I thought about this for some time. But that was before I started to read. Then the question became redundant as the real worth of this volume shone through. It is part of the Forensic Focus series which, as the introductory note states, ‘takes the field of Forensic Psychotherapy as its focal point’. This, I would argue, is not really the case here, as I believe both the series editor and those responsible for this particular number might agree. There are thought-provoking chapters on ethical difficulties associated with the delivery of psychiatric care in prisons and a fascinating one on the use of language in penal settings. But what the book does do, to my mind at least, is represent a significant achievement and a milestone in writing about the practice of psychiatry in what can at times be the most difficult of environments.

The book's format makes it easy to read and there is relatively little repetition of material, which is no mean feat where multiple authors are involved. In the few instances where repetition does occur it is actually appropriate and helpful. The chapters are kept short, one suspects intentionally, and very much to the point. As a consequence they are packed with information, both theoretical and practical in most instances. Subjects covered range from prison history, present-day service structure and processes; through health screening, suicide, substance misuse, healthcare and therapeutic regimes, and the production of reports; to the various offender groups, consent to treatment, capacity and the UK Mental Health Act. There are particularly valuable and interesting contributions on hunger strikes and food refusal as well as deaths in custody. There is some variation in style from section to section but not in a way that detracts from the content. I was a little uncertain about the chapters offering an international perspective as they relate only to the USA and New Zealand. That said, what makes this book so powerful is that all the contributors have in the past worked, or still do, right at the coalface, thus imbuing the writing with a sense of credibility and authority.

I would hold that this book should be read by any psychiatrist who has worked, or intends to work, in a prison, as well as by anyone commencing training or already working in the forensic field. It will not lessen the challenge but will surely offer a firm foundation from which to start.