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Development of an internet risk awareness group for learning disabled offenders
- Authors:
- BATEY Glenn, COMER Theresa
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 4(3/4), 2013, pp.109-116.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Since its inception, the internet has become increasingly dominant in everyday life. Despite its obvious benefits, concerns have been raised as to potential risks of the internet such as susceptibility to being a victim of crime and bullying. For individuals with a learning or developmental disability this risk is increased given their lack of intellectual functioning and social awareness. For individuals with such a disability and a forensic background, the risks may be even greater given the added possibility of offending online. The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of an internet risk awareness group for such individuals. Design/methodology/approach: The internet awareness group comprises of ten sessions run on a weekly basis for individuals with a learning/developmental disability and forensic background. The aim of the group is to aid an understanding of the benefits and risks of the internet, including things to be aware of to enable service users to make an informed choice and to minimise their chance of being the victim of any crime or distress. The sessions also have a forensic focus and will outline legal aspects of the internet in relation to behaviours such as stalking and will teach service users about the consequence of this. Findings: The paper describes the process of developing the course material, providing the course and adapting it in light of feedback from participants. Originality/value: The paper highlights the emerging nature of problematic internet use amongst learning disabled offenders. It serves to raise awareness among health and social care professionals and instigate the development of further good practice. (Publisher abstract)
Putting responsivity into risk assessment: the use of the Structured Assessment of Risk and Need (SARN) with sexual offenders who have an intellectual disability
- Authors:
- HOCKEN Kerensa, WINDER Belinda, GRAYSON Andy
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 4(3/4), 2013, pp.77-89.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the relevance of the Structured Assessment of Risk and Need (SARN) for sexual offenders with intellectual disability (ID). Design/methodology/approach: A thematic analysis was conducted on the transcript of a discussion group of experts who work with sex offenders with ID in custody. Findings: The principal concern of the researchers at the outset of the paper was that the risk factors within the SARN might not be relevant to sexual offenders with an intellectual disability. However, what emerged from the analysis was that, from the perspective of expert practitioners, the limitations of the SARN with respect to working with sex offenders with ID is as much to do with the way in which it is administered, as it is to do with its “content”. Practical implications: The process of risk assessment is critical when assessing risk with sex offenders with ID, highlighting the importance of incorporating responsivity principles into the risk assessment process. Originality/value: The paper encourages risk assessors to rethink their assumptions about indicators of risk and progress and provides guidance about how practitioners can assess risk more effectively with sex offenders with ID. (Publisher abstract)
Alcohol and its relationship to offence variables in a cohort of offenders with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- LINDSAY William R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 38(4), 2013, pp.325-331.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Alcohol use and misuse may be lower in people with intellectual disability (ID) than in the general population but may be related to offending. Method: Alcohol-related crime and history of alcohol use was recorded in 477 participants with ID referred to forensic ID services and related to offending. Results: Level of alcohol-related crime and history of alcohol misuse was lower than in some previous studies at 5.9% and 20.8%, respectively. History of alcohol abuse was associated with alcohol-related offences and theft. Higher rates of alcohol problem history were associated with histories of a number of offences, psychiatric disturbance in adulthood, psychiatric disturbance in childhood, and experiences of childhood adversity. Most effect sizes were weak or moderate. Conclusions: The convergence of childhood adversity, psychiatric problems in childhood and adulthood, and alcohol abuse is consistent with studies that have found these as risk markers for offending. (Publisher abstract)
The impact of known criminogenic factors on offenders with intellectual disability: previous findings and new results on ADHD
- Authors:
- LINDSAY William R., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 26(1), 2013, pp.71-80.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
It is well established that child development factors are important in relation to the development of criminal behaviour. Research on developmental risk factors for offenders with intellectual disability has found similar trends. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder are developmental disorders known to be over-represented among criminal populations when compared to the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which ADHD affects the presentation of offenders with intellectual disability. The data was drawn from the Northumbria/Cambridge/Abertay Pathways (NCAP) Project. Information related to index behaviour, history of problem behaviours, childhood adversity and psychiatric diagnoses was recorded in 477 adults who had been referred to forensic intellectual disability services. Comparisons were made between those with a previous diagnosis of ADHD and those without. The findings showed that the ADHD group had higher proportions of physical aggression, substance use, previous problems including aggression, sexual offences and property offences, birth problems and abuse in childhood. The article concludes that ADHD with conduct disorder is associated with a greater degree and history of problematic behaviour in offenders with intellectual disability.
The Inventory of Legal Knowledge (ILK) and adults with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- WATSON Malorie E., KIVISTO Aaron J.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 8(2), 2017,
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: Adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) entering the legal system in the United States are at heightened risk of being incorrectly labelled as malingering. The Inventory of Legal Knowledge (ILK) was recently developed to assess response style of individuals undergoing competency to stand trial evaluations. This paper presents preliminary data on the utility of the ILK with adults with ID. Design/methodology/approach: Thirty-two adults were recruited from an American day programme for adults with ID. Using a simulation design, the first twenty-four participants were assigned to the honest responding group and the remaining eight were assigned to the fake bad group. The normative performance of the honest responding group was compared to established norms for adults without ID, the most efficient ILK cut-off score was examined, and convergent validity of the ILK and other malingering measures tested. Findings: Compared to the established mean score, the recommended cut-off score, and two independent published samples of non-ID adults, the normative performance of the honest responding ID group was significantly lower. Analyses of area under the curve (AUC) revealed that the ILK lacked sufficient ability to discriminate adults with ID instructed to respond honestly from those instructed to feign incompetence, and correlational analyses failed to support the convergent validity of the ILK in this sample. Research limitations/implications: The present findings do not support the use of the ILK with adults with ID, even with adjusted cut scores. The development of novel malingering measures that can be used in the context of CST evaluations with adults with ID is needed. Originality/value: The present study is the first to examine the psychometric properties of the ILK with adults diagnosed with ID and without concomitant psychiatric symptomatology. (Publisher abstract)
Rare instances of individuals with autism supporting or engaging in terrorism
- Authors:
- FACCINI Lino, ALLELY Clare Sarah
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 8(2), 2017,
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The prevalence of individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder being associated with terroristic threats, lone wolf terrorism or affiliating with terroristic groups is rare. Design/methodology/approach: However, several cases are presented, where individuals with autism are involved in making a naïve, empty terroristic threat, or uttering serious serial terroristic threats. Other cases are also presented of individuals being at risk for an abduction or being used by a terrorist group, and finally committing an act of domestic lone wolf terrorism. Findings: Essential to the analysis was establishing a functional connection between autism-based deficits and the terroristic threats, terrorism, and when to not criminalize naïve, empty terroristic threats or acts. Originality/value: Currently, tools available to law enforcement and prosecutors exploit the vulnerabilities and liabilities which arise as a result of group interactions, a “preventive” approach to terrorism that is not applicable to the solitary, “lone wolf” terrorist (Barnes, 2012; Zierhoffer, 2014).There has been relatively little research (including case studies) examining individuals with ASD who engage in terrorism. For instance, when dealing with an individual with ASD who is charged with terrorism, it is crucial to consider how the diagnosis of autism may have presented as a contextual vulnerability, and to make sure that justice, rehabilitation and management, are informed by an understanding of the person’s diagnosis of ASD (Al-Attar, 2016). (Publisher abstract)
Development of the community based individual risk mitigation profile (IRMP) for people who have intellectual disability and are at risk of offending
- Authors:
- HUTCHINSON John, DUNN Vicky
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 7(2), 2016, pp.66-74.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the development of the community-based individual risk mitigation profile (IRMP) and to examine its effectiveness for people who have an intellectual disability, and are at risk of offending, through the use of a case study. Design/methodology/approach: Case study and literature review. Findings: The tool has been found to be useful and accessible by clinicians. It has a particular focus on joint sharing of opinion on risk and decision making in a structured and contained multi-disciplinary forum, that is evidence-based and defensible. This multi-disciplinary approach meets recommendations in best practice in relation to risk. Research limitations/implications: A current limitation is that the IRMP has not been evaluated for reliability and validity, though a research study is being planned. Originality/value: The paper highlights the usefulness of a community-based risk profile assessment and linked risk mitigation process. (Publisher abstract)
Providing forensic community services for people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- DINANI Shamim, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Learning Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 1(1), April 2010, pp.58-63.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The Avon Forensic Community Learning Disabilities Team, formed in 2000, was developed with the aim of identifying those who had convictions or allegations of offending made against them or were as risk of offending and, where possible, to divert them to community settings by providing therapeutic interventions and support. This team attempted to avoid inappropriate imprisonment or admission to out-of-area units by providing specialist assessment and intervention. This article reports on the first eight years of this team. The authors give an overview of current research and government guidance regarding the prevalence, care pathway and treatment of people with learning disabilities who offend, and describe the role and function of the community forensic team. An analysis of referrals to the service is given. The authors reflect on the frustrations as well as the achievements associated with providing this service. Implications for practice include: early identification of people with learning disabilities in the criminal justice system; community teams developing awareness, skills and knowledge by working with specialist teams; teams delivering assessment and treatment in community settings, bypassing inpatient treatment; improved links with the criminal justice system results in increased referrals of people not previously known to have learning difficulties.
Breaking the cycle: better help for people with learning disabilities at risk of committing offences: a framework for the north west
- Author:
- NORTH WEST TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT TEAM
- Publisher:
- North West Training and Development Team
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 77p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Accrington
Local services are struggling to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities who are at risk of offending, due to problems with commissioning strategies, inadequate or poorly targeted resources, variable staff competence (with these service users) in ordinary learning disabilities services, insufficient cross-agency coordination (eg. between the CJS, mental health services and CLDTs), insufficient community-based specialist services and a shortage of staff training. People with learning disabilities at risk of offending usually have moderate, mild or borderline disabilities. They frequently have challenging behaviour, additional physical or mental health needs and/or autism. Often their family background is one of chaos, deprivation, abuse and neglect. Usually they have been known to services during childhood but some may lose touch with services for a while when they leave school.
Discharges from a learning disabilities medium secure unit: what happens to them?
- Authors:
- HALSTEAD Simon, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Forensic Practice, 3(1), April 2001, pp.11-21.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Thirty-five patients who had received at least one year's treatment in a learning-disability medium secure unit were followed up for a maximum of five years. A good treatment outcome was more common in those with significant learning disability. At the end of follow up, 21 subjects (60 %) were living in the community with support. The early months after discharge were a peak period for relapse. A very low level of reconviction was found, affecting only one subject. Patients who were older on discharge were less likely to re-offend.