Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
People with Learning Disabilities in the Criminal Justice System
Sue KerswellOffender Health - South West
My Job
Work with health, social care and criminal justice agencies across the South West to improve the way people with learning disabilities are identified if they find themselves in trouble with
the law or if they do things that might get them into trouble with thepolice
Who are we talking about
It is believed that about a ¼ of the people
who get in trouble with the law have some
form of learning disability that prevents them
coping with the criminal justice system
€€€ € €
What are the issues - The Police Station
• Police Officers don’t always know when someone has a learning disability
• Few Appropriate Adults• Lack of accessible information; difficulties
understanding process & rights• Getting the Criminal Justice Service
response right• Questioning – people answer yes to
please and agree with all questions
What are the issues - Court
• Some people do not know why they are at court• The way questions are asked makes people with learning disabilities more likely to say yes• Words used in Court are difficult to understand• ‘Special Measures’ are available for victims, but not always
for the accused• Courts are not told when people have a learning disability• When they are told, it is not always clear what support
people can get
What are the issues - prison
• Don’t know when people have a learning disability• Prison rules can be hard to understand• People with learning disabilities don’t know why they are
there/parole/ release dates• Everything based on filling out forms• Lack of programmes suitable for people with learning
disabilities• Less likely to take part in activities• More likely to experience seclusion & restraint• More likely to experience depression and anxiety
Why
Valuing People Now (DH, 2009) says that offenders with learning disabilities are 1 of the groups of people who miss out more than others. It says that the needs of these people must be part of any plans about learning disability
The Bradley Report (Lord Bradley 2009), an independent review into the needs of people with mental health needs and learning disabilities identified many areas where services could be improved for people with learning disabilities.
What am I doing
• Looking at what is happening across the South West• Supporting Steering Groups to make change happen• Conference to share good practice and set local actions• Training for criminal justice staff• Supporting national developments to happen in the
South West• Looking at ways of making sure people’s needs are
identified • Joined up work between criminal justice and learning
disabilities staff
Learning Disability and Criminal Justice Groups
LD & CJS groupLDPB Prison Partnership Board
Regional Valuing People Regional Offender Health Lead
Learning Disability Services
People withLearning Disabilities
Prison
CourtsPoliceProbation
What is the Dorset Learning Disabilities and Criminal Justice
Group doing?
• Agreed the groups rules• Looking at more joined up working• Plan to map existing services within Dorset,
Poole and Bournemouth for people who are, or may come into contact with Criminal Justice
• Map out current assessment criteria to Learning Disability Services
• Identify current training needs for all Criminal Justice staff; how training is being delivered and unmet training needs
