Up to half of Victorian prisoners have an acquired brain injury, a consultant psychiatrist says.

Dr Danny Sullivan, assistant clinical director for the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health, known as Forensicare, likened prisons to psychiatric hospitals because a significant proportion of offenders suffered a range of mental disorders, which often went undiagnosed.

Police and correctional staff now received more training on how to recognise mental disorders, had better access to mental health staff and also used national standards for evidence-based screening tests of people entering prison.

Read more on The Age website.