Mentally disturbed offenders are defined to include offenders who may be acutely or chronically mentally ill, those with neuroses and behavioral and/or personality disorders, and those with mental health problems related to alcohol and drug misuse. They represent a relatively large proportion of sentenced and remand prison populations. Despite the numbers involved, most prisons are not prepared to deal with mentally disturbed offenders and most existing resettlement services focus on prisoners serving longer sentences. Prospects for the effective resettlement of mentally disturbed offenders have also been damaged by a recent development in England; restrictions on home leave from prison mean there is less opportunity for prisoners to be integrated with needed community care services and support, and the impact of this on mentally disturbed offenders may be especially severe. An overview of what must be done to prevent reoffending by mentally disturbed prisoners after their release is presented. Inadequacies of current resettlement arrangements are discussed, and components of an effective resettlement service are identified that encompass preparation in prison for resettlement, links with family and friends, information and advice, advocacy, housing, money, employment, education, training, and health and social care. Two resettlement initiatives for mentally disturbed offenders are described. 7 references