“I’d trust them if they understood learning disabilities” support needs of people with learning disabilities in the Criminal Justice System

Abstract

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -People with learning disabilities (LD) often lack necessary support in navigating and coping within the Criminal Justice System (CJS). The purpose of this paper is to explore their experiences, from their own perspective, and identify the supports which need to be implemented. Design/methodology/approach -Focus groups were held with nine patients in a forensic LD service, discussing their experiences and support needs within the CJS. Template analysis was undertaken on the transcripts. Findings -Four themes were identified: negative feelings, professional attitudes, suitability of the CJS, and supports needed. Practical implications -This research demonstrates the valuable opinions to be obtained from offenders with LD on their experiences and needs. Implications for the CJS include a need for further awareness, training, and expertise to work effectively with people with LD. Participant perspectives also highlight the importance of consistent liaison and diversion schemes, and indicate that CJS services may have something to learn from healthcare settings. Originality/value -Previous knowledge of offenders with LD overlooked the perspective of the service user. This research has given this group a voice, and has benefited from their insight. This is a timely piece of research in the current landscape of the CJS, and so these findings may be of practical value to the implementation of supports, particularly the liaison and diversion schemes.

The role of the appropriate adult in supporting vulnerable adults in custody: Comparing the perspectives of service users and service providers

“…More recently, a qualitative study of nine adults with learning disabilities’ experiences of the CJS highlighted their need for emotional support to help with feelings of fear, sadness and shame. Not all had been provided with an AA and those who were had a family member or carer rather than a trained professional, and while participants thought the AA could help lessen fears, they were not clear how much practical help they could be (Howard, Phipps, Clarbour, & Rayner, ).…”

Men with intellectual disabilities and sexual offending histories: an exploration of their experiences of living within a secure hospital setting

“…Not only to help them with their personal, emotional and therapeutic needs but also to have somebody to talk to in general. Regular one-to-one sessions with the same member of staff or somebody to talk to, has been highlighted to be important in inpatient admissions, as well as access to the community, keeping busy and having structured activities (Vos et al , 2007; Howard et al , 2015).…”

Learning disability, autism and the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act

“…It has been noted however that there are some programmes for people with lower IQs, with more being developed (HMI Probation, 2015). Prisoners with ID have indicated that they felt prison staff did not have enough training (Howard et al, 2015), something with which prison staff agree (Chaplin et al, 2017). Howard et al, 2015 also found that participants felt they did not have enough support, that prison was not rehabilitative and that healthcare settings were more appropriate to support them to return the community and not re-offend.…”