The Post Office Scandal in the United Kingdom: Mental health and social experiences of wrongly convicted and wrongly accused individuals

Author:

Growns Bethany12ORCID,Kukucka Jeff3,Moorhead Richard2,Helm Rebecca K.2

Affiliation:

1. School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing University of Canterbury Christchurch New Zealand

2. Law School University of Exeter Exeter UK

3. Department of Psychology Towson University Towson Maryland USA

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundWrongful criminal conviction can significantly impair the mental health of exonerees. However, much less is known about wrongful accusation: the impact of wrongful legal allegations or investigations—absent conviction—on mental health outcomes.MethodTo address this gap, we surveyed 101 victims of the Post Office Scandal in the United Kingdom who were wrongly accused, convicted and/or investigated for financial ‘losses’ that were actually caused by software errors.ResultsMost respondents reported clinically significant post‐traumatic stress (67%) and depressive (60%) symptoms—irrespective of the outcome of their case. These results suggest that both wrongful accusation and wrongful conviction can significantly impair mental health.ConclusionOur findings have important implications for victims of the Post Office Scandal and highlight the unique needs of people impacted by flawed convictions and flawed legal accusations. Our findings underscore the need to provide exonerees with holistic postrelease support and demonstrate that this support should also be extended to victims of wrongful accusation.

Funder

University of Exeter

UK Research and Innovation

Publisher

Wiley

Subject

Applied Psychology,Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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