Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 10 of 11
Adults with learning disabilities and the criminal justice system: their rights and our responsibilities: report of a summit held in Glasgow on 27 October 2008
- Author:
- SCOTLAND. Scottish Government
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scottish Government
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 35p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
In April 2008, the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland reported on the case of a woman with a learning disability who was repeatedly sexually abused over many years. Although some of these offences were reported to the police, no one was prosecuted, in part because the complainer was judged not to be a competent witness. The Commission’s report Justice Denied concluded that the woman, known as Ms A, was effectively denied justice, and raised the possibility that this case was not an isolated example. In response to the report, the Scottish Government is taking the recommendations into account to ensure that the justice system continues to improve the protection and support for victims and witnesses with learning disabilities. This summit was organised jointly by the Health and Justice Directorates of the Scottish Government, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and the Law Society of Scotland, with assistance from the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Representatives from NHS Scotland, prosecutors, social work, police, the legal profession and voluntary organisations were brought together to consider the best way forward. People with learning disabilities played a prominent part in the day’s proceedings.
Lord Bradley's report on people with mental health problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice system: the government's response
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Ministry of Justice
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Ministry of Justice
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 29p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This response begins with a long introduction detailing the matters considered. A grid gives Bradley's recommendations, their status (accepted, accepted in principle or under review) and proposed action.
Supporting victims and witnesses with a learning disability
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Crown Prosecution Service
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Crown Prosecution Service
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 60p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This easy to read document is a public policy statement, designed for people who have a learning disability and who are the victim of, or witness to, a criminal offence. It explains how the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the main prosecuting authority for England and Wales, will deal with cases which involve victims and witnesses who have a learning disability. The service recognises that some people will have a learning disability and experience mental health issues; in those circumstances both policies may apply. The purpose of this document is: to explain the role of the CPS; to give an overview of the criminal justice system (CJS); to set out what victims and witnesses can expect from the CPS; and to give information about particular issues which may affect victims and witnesses who have a learning disability.
Vulnerable and intimidated witnesses: review of provisions in other jurisdictions
- Author:
- REID-HOWIE ASSOCIATES
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scotland Executive Central Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 151p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
Vulnerable and intimidated witnesses: review of provisions in other jurisdictions
- Author:
- REID-HOWIE ASSOCIATES
- Publisher:
- Scotland. Scotland Executive Central Research Unit
- Publication year:
- 2002
- Pagination:
- 6p.
- Place of publication:
- Edinburgh
The Government response to the consultation on revised statutory guidance to implement the Strategy for Adults with Autism in England
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department of Health
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 29
- Place of publication:
- London
This document is a summary of the responses received during the consultation on revised statutory guidance to implement the Strategy for Adults with Autism in England. It highlights the key themes and common issues from the consultation responses and sets out the Government’s response that has shaped the statutory guidance. Areas that were repeatedly mentioned included the: importance of using more directive and proactive language; value of co-production and consultation with people with autism and carers; need for good initial and refresher training across organisations and sectors; need to allocate dedicated local funding to support service developments; need for health and social services to work together and to work with partners; importance of involving the voluntary sector; need to set up monitoring processes to assess progress; and importance of cross-referencing to other guidance, legislation and resources. The document details the government’s response on: training staff; identification and diagnosis; planning for transitions; local planning and leadership; preventative support and safeguarding; reasonable adjustments; supporting people with complex needs; employment; and working with the criminal justice system. (Edited publisher abstract)
Positive practice, positive outcomes: a handbook for professionals in the criminal justice system working with offenders with learning disabilities
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department of Health
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 61p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This best practice handbook provides information, practical advice, sign-posting and best practice examples for criminal justice professionals working with offenders with learning disabilities and learning difficulties. This group includes police suspects and defendants in court. The handbook is intended as an introduction to this work and covers the essential information to help staff identify, communicate with, understand and support 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 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).
Staying positive: the criminal justice system and learning disabilities: easy read information for people with learning disabilities and learning difficulties
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department of Health
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 28p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This booklet, which is presented in an easy to read form, is intended to help people with a learning disability who find themselves in contact with the criminal justice system to get good support and to help them understand their rights. The booklet provides information about the recent publication ‘Positive Practise, Positive Outcomes 2011’, which is a handbook for staff in the criminal justice system about offenders with a learning disability or learning difficulty. The booklet has separate sections for each stage of the criminal justice system, that is police, court, prison and probation. A list of websites and companies with helpful information is also provided.
Improving health, supporting justice: the national delivery plan of the Health and Criminal Justice Programme Board
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department of Health
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 61p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This plan is published in response to the recommendations for improving the health and well-being of adult offenders in Lord Bradley’s 2009 review of people with mental health problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice system in the United Kingdom. It accepts the direction proposed in the Bradley review and in combination with feedback from stakeholders given during the consultation ‘Improving health, supporting justice’ sets out a strategic framework of 5 objectives with timescales aimed for over the next 18 months. Delivering this plan in recessionary times means little scope for new resources and it concentrates on improving and re-focusing existing services across individual Primary Care Trust and criminal justice agencies and localities working in partnership, by adopting existing good practice, system reform to better working practices and the innovative skills of frontline staff. In addition this plan details several service specific priorities, for example for the Police and Crown Prosecution Services, the courts, prisons and probationary services and drugs and alcohol misuse services. Key deliverables, with timescales are listed throughout the text, which are referenced against the Bradley review recommendations, eighty two of which are annexed to this paper.
The Bradley report: Lord Bradley's review of people with mental health problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice system
- Author:
- BRADLEY Keith
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department of Health
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 171p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This independent review was commissioned to examine the extent to which offenders with mental health problems or learning disabilities could, in appropriate cases, be diverted from prison to other services and the barriers to such diversion. The review incorporates the range of mental health problems and learning disabilities across the whole of the criminal justice system. It includes recommendations to government including the organisation of effective liaison and diversion arrangements and the services needed to support them.