Positive Practice Positive Outcomes
by Jan Hearn (forum coordinator)
4 August 2011
This handbook is intended as an introduction to working with offenders with learning disabilities. This group includes police suspects and defendants in court. It covers the essential information to help staff identify and understand this group of people. It also covers relevant legislation that outlines the duties and obligations of criminal justice staff, and also health and social care staff, with regards to offenders with learning disabilities.
Much of the advice and legislation covered is also relevant when working with offenders with conditions that are largely defined by communication problems and that may affect a person’s ability to cope in the criminal justice system. These include autism, Asperger Syndrome, ADHD (attention deficit hyper-activity disorder), and specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia). Descriptions of these conditions are provided.
This handbook aims to help criminal justice staff to:
• Recognise when a person might have a learning disability
• Improve their communication with, and support of, people with learning disabilities and learning difficulties
• Establish and maintain links with the local learning disability services and other support services
• Be aware of the legislation in place to protect and support people with learning disabilities.
Download the handbook from the website below
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Learn more at:
Positive Practice Positive Outcomes
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