AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE (ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THE POPULATION) SERVING A PRISON SENTENCE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM CAN BE IDENTIFIED AS MENTALLY ABNORMAL. HOWEVER, THERE IS ONLY ONE SPECIAL PSYCHIATRIC PRISON IN ENGLAND TO HANDLE THIS PROBLEM--GRENDON PRISON--WHICH IS UNIQUE IN THAT ALL ITS INMATES ARE REFERRED SPECIFICALLY BY MEDICAL OFFICERS IN OTHER PRISONS FOR PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT. ELSEWHERE, A SPECIALIZED PRISON UNIT IN ONE WING OF A HIGH SECURITY PRISON ACCOMODATES LONG TERM AND DIFFICULT PRISONERS. THE MOST SERIOUSLY DISTURBED OFFENDERS ARE SENT TO ONE OF FOUR SPECIALIZED HOSPITALS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. INCREASING ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO DEVELOP FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY SERVICES WITHIN THE NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM. IN 1967, SPECIAL CENTERS IN FORENSIC PSYCHIATRY WERE ESTABLISHED IN THE HEALTH SERVICE. EIGHT SUCH CENTERS NOW EXIST AND PROVIDE TREATMENT. THE ARTICLE FOCUSES ON THE CENTER ESTABLISHED IN WEST MIDLANDS, ENGLAND, AND DISCUSSES THE SOURCE OF ITS REFERRALS, SEX AND AGE DISTRIBUTION AMONG PATIENTS, AND THE PRINCIPAL OFFENSES THEY COMMITTED INCLUDING BATTERY OF WIVES AND CHILDREN, SHOPLIFTING, AND ALCOHOL ABUSE. LASTLY, AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SUCCESS OF THE CENTER AND COMMENTS ON ITS TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR FORENSIC PSYCHIATRISTS ARE GIVEN. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ALSO MADE FOR THE CENTER'S FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (MJW)