Police Contact with Young People with Cognitive Disabilities: Perceptions of Procedural (In)justice

Ellem, Kathy; Richards, Kelly

doi:10.1177/1473225418794357

Cited by 21 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…Experiences of transition for young people with complex support needs are frequently far from normative. These young people must often navigate a plethora of multi-faceted transitions which can include experiences of violence (Lamb, Humphreys, & Hegarty, 2018); rejection and exclusion from formal education and other services (Paget et al, 2018); criminalization at an early age and frequent contact with police (Ellem & Richards, 2018); the loss of essential resources such as housing and/or income (Couch, 2017;Mott, Keller, Britt-Rankin, & Ball, 2018); and breakdowns in informal supports such as removal from families of origin, continual relocations resulting in instability and the loss of supportive relationships (Jakobsen & Christiansen, 2011;Atwool, 2016).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Transcending the Professional–Client Divide: Supporting Young People with Complex Support Needs Through Transitions

Ellem

Smith

Baidawi

et al. 2020

Child Adolesc Soc Work J

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Young people with complex support needs frequently experience multiple intersecting forms of disadvantage including experiences of violence, abuse and neglect, housing instability and homelessness, problematic substance use, exclusion from education, and contact with the criminal justice system. Many of these young people have mental health, cognitive disability and/or other health issues that also impact on their lives. These young people need to navigate multiple, diverse, and often difficult transitions between services, adding to the existing chaos in their lives. This article explores the experiences of young people with complex support needs in transition, specifically young people's viewpoints and experiences of supports they receive from paid professionals. This qualitative study used body mapping research methods and in-depth interviews with 38 young people aged 16 to 26 years in three Australian states. Helpful and trusting paid relationships could serve as an anchor to young people during complex transitions and other highly turbulent life periods. These relationships were contingent on a deep and non-judgmental knowing of the young person, contributed constructive outcomes and stability in young people's lives, and for some young people, had 'life-saving' effects. These findings present opportunities and challenges for policymakers and practitioners to balance the tensions between authentic relationship-based work with young people and risk-averse, economically-driven imperatives in contemporary youth service provision.

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confidence: 99%

Transcending the Professional–Client Divide: Supporting Young People with Complex Support Needs Through Transitions

Ellem

Smith

Baidawi

et al. 2020

Child Adolesc Soc Work J

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“…In turn, neurodiverse populations are more likely to experience long-term unemployment, economic hardship, housing insecurity, and poverty (Bathje et al, 2018). Furthermore, neurodiverse populations have considerable incarceration rates, mostly in relation to petty crime or disorderly conduct when interacting with police (Ellem & Richards, 2018). Moreover, people who are neurodiverse experience high rates of depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance abuse (Bathje et al, 2018).…”

Section: The Link Between Ableism and Social Disadvantagementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Neurodiverse populations frequently access specialist disability services, however, these predominantly focus on the bio-psycho dimensions of wellbeing, discounting ORIGINAL ARTICLE socio-economic factors (O'Connor, 2014). In connection to the social disadvantage that neurodiverse populations experience, they are over-represented as service users in health, welfare, and criminal justice systems (Ellem & Richards, 2018). Services within these systems are generalist in nature, and, by design, often do not accommodate diverse support needs (Ellem et al, 2013).…”

Section: Limitations In Current Social Work Practice Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Re-writing the “rules of engagement”: Using critical reflection to examine ableist social work practice

Fox

2021

ANZSWJ

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INTRODUCTION: Normative beliefs and practices reaffirm a hegemonic construction of human ability that legitimises the socio-cultural status quo. This disenfranchises people with diverse abilities who are excluded from this construction whilst simultaneously normalising the structural inequality and oppression that they experience. Helping professions such as social work often provide support to people who are disadvantaged by these social structures. However, practitioners within these fields are not immune to the influence of socio-cultural norms, therefore it is essential for them to reflect on the ways in which they might reproduce them within their practice.APPROACH: This article outlines my experience of using critical reflection as a research methodology to examine an incident from my practice. Deconstruction and reconstruction methods were used to analyse the normative assumptions within my construction of this incident.REFLECTIONS: The deconstruction analysis revealed how assumptions about impairment within my account of the incident were underpinned by ableist discourses. Reconstructing this through a neurodiversity lens enabled me to generate new insights around the anti-oppressive potential for using a pluralistic approach that undermines hegemonic constructions of ability.CONCLUSIONS: By critically reflecting on this incident, I realised the importance of challenging normative assumptions when practising within neoliberal contexts where socio-cultural hegemony is amplified.

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“…• not being believed (AHRC, 2014;Parliament of Victoria, 2016;VEOHRC, 2014) • viewed as unreliable and lacking credibility and capacity (AHRC, 2014;Law Council of Australia, 2018;Camilleri, 2008Camilleri, , 2010Ellem & Richards, 2018;French, 2007;Goodfellow & Camilleri, 2003;VEOHRC, 2014) • a lack of accessible information on how to report, lack of support and accommodations during the justice process (AHRC, 2014; VEOHRC, 2014) • negative perceptions about the capacity of people with disability to be a competent witnesses (AHRC, 2014;Ellem & Richards, 2018;French, 2007;VEOHRC, 2014) • barriers associated with police interviews and cross examination, in particular the framing of questions (Law Council of Australia, 2018), which increases comprehension and hence the opportunity to provide a full and honest response Disabled in rural Victoria: Exploring the intersection of victimisation, disability and rurality on access to justice -Camilleri…”

Section: [Dis]abling Barriers To Justicementioning

confidence: 99%

Disabled in rural Victoria: Exploring the intersection of victimisation, disability and rurality on access to justice

Camilleri¹

2019

International Journal of Rural Criminology

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The last decade, in Australia and internationally, has seen an increased focus on and subsequent greater awareness of the inequitable justice system response to accused, offenders and victims with cognitive impairment. In Australia, these inequities have been documented by various national and state based inquiries. It is fair to say, however, that much of the focus and subsequent reform has centred primarily, although not exclusively, on offenders and accused with cognitive impairment rather than victims. This article uses a case study, extracted from a larger study, as a vehicle through which to explore the justice system's response to a young man with cognitive impairment who is a victim of crime, and resides in a rural location in Victoria, Australia. The case study is derived from interviews with the victim/witness and his mother, and provides a sequential overview of the process and outcomes of this case from report to finalisation at court. The paper seeks to highlight the compounding impact of intersectional dimensions of victimisation, disability and rurality on access to justice for victims with cognitive impairment. The case also demonstrates the need to review legislation, procedure, policy and practice to reflect the tangible impact on individuals of so called property or victimless crimes.

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Police Contact with Young People with Cognitive Disabilities: Perceptions of Procedural (In)justice

Cited by 21 publications

References 43 publications

Transcending the Professional–Client Divide: Supporting Young People with Complex Support Needs Through Transitions

Transcending the Professional–Client Divide: Supporting Young People with Complex Support Needs Through Transitions

Re-writing the “rules of engagement”: Using critical reflection to examine ableist social work practice

Disabled in rural Victoria: Exploring the intersection of victimisation, disability and rurality on access to justice

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