“I’d trust them if they understood learning disabilities” support needs of people with learning disabilities in the Criminal Justice System
| Published date | 09 March 2015 |
| Pages | 4-14 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JIDOB-05-2015-0011 |
| Date | 09 March 2015 |
| Author | Ruth Howard,Emma Phipps,Jane Clarbour,Kelly Rayner |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities,Offending behaviour |
“I’d trust them if they understood learning
disabilities”support needs of people with
learning disabilities in the Criminal Justice
System
Ruth Howard, Emma Phipps, Jane Clarbour and Kelly Rayner
Ruth Howard is MSc Student at
the Department of Psychology,
University of York, York, UK.
Dr Emma Phipps is based at
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys
NHS Foundation Trust,
Middlesbrough, UK.
Dr Jane Clarbouris based at the
University of York,York, UK.
Dr Kelly Rayner is based at
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys
NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –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.
Keywords Forensic, Support, Criminal Justice System, Offending, Learning disabilities,
Liaison and diversion
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Closures of institutions for people with learning disabilities (LD) at the end of the twentieth century
raised new challenges for the treatment of offenders with LD. An unintended consequence of
this positive step was increased opportunities for offending behaviour, resulting in increased
prevalence among people with LD (Lindsay et al., 2007). Whilst the white paper “Valuing people:
a new strategy for learning disability for the 21st century”(Department of Health, 2001) was a
turning point for UK policy on services for people with LD in areas such as education,
employment, and healthcare, the Criminal Justice System (CJS) fell behind. “Valuing people
NOW”highlighted that criminal justice was one major area in which LD rights had not sufficiently
advanced (Department of Health (DoH), 2009b).
Received 11 May 2015
Revised 14 July 2015
Accepted 20 July 2015
The authors thank Anne-Marie
Billington and Maninder Kaur
Nagra for help with transcription of
audio files.
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JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND OFFENDING BEHAVIOUR
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VOL. 6 NO. 1 2015, pp.4-14, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8824 DOI 10.1108/JIDOB-05-2015-0011
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