Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Arson treatment programmes for offenders with disability: a systematic review of the literature
- Authors:
- CURTIS Ashlee, McVILLY Keith, DAY Andrew
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Learning Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 3(4), 2012, pp.196-205.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
A systematic review of the literature was undertaken in order to identify and evaluate treatment for adult fire setters with an intellectual disability. The review also took into account programmes for fire setters in the wider population, including those for children and adolescents, given that such research might also inform the development of programmes for offenders with an intellectual disability. Only four studies which evaluated treatment programmes specifically for arsonists with an intellectual disability were identified. Although each of these studies reported a reduction in fire-setting behaviour following programme completion, all employed relatively weak research designs. An additional 12 studies investigating programmes for arsonists without intellectual disability were also identified. It is concluded that there is a lack of evidence regarding treatment programme outcomes for arsonists with an intellectual disability. The extent to which such programmes can be adapted to suit adult offenders with an intellectual disability is discussed, with recommendations made for the design and evaluation of arson treatment programmes for offenders with intellectual disabilities. (Edited publisher abstract)
Tiered model of learning disability forensic service provision
- Authors:
- DEVAPRIAM John, ALEXANDER Regi T.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Learning Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 3(4), 2012, pp.175-185.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Traditionally, services for people with learning disabilities (LD) and forensic needs are underdeveloped. This paper aims to describe the setting up of a tiered model of LD forensic service provision in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, facilitated and driven by a core team of professionals who have the skills and expertise in this area. With no dedicated funding, this team is virtual in nature and provides support for the community and in-patient teams in the assessment and management of offenders with LD. A care pathway including a process map is included to represent a visual idea of the referral, assessment, intervention and disposal strategies across the four tiers of service delivery. The service has a unique partnership arrangement with the independent sector that allows for staff training in order to deliver quality outcomes. The virtual team can support patients with learning disabilities and forensic needs in the community and in-patient settings, both by avoiding unnecessary in-patient admissions and by improving the treatment outcomes of those discharged from in-patient settings. Further research is required to demonstrate the clinical and social outcomes for offenders with LD using the tiered model of care and care-pathway. (Edited publisher abstract)
Occupational therapy in a medium secure intellectual disability and personality disorder service
- Authors:
- WITHERS Paul, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Learning Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 3(4), 2012, pp.206-218.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This general review describes the development and implementation of an occupational therapy services within a newly-established medium secure service for 16 men with intellectual disabilities with a dual diagnosis of intellectual disability and personality disorder located in the North West of England. The paper seeks to illustrate the efficacy of occupational therapy implemented by a specifically recruited and trained staff team, describing engagement in meaningful, bespoke programmes of occupation used to assist service users to address deficit areas via mutual engagement in activities, serving to facilitate the formation and development of positive and trusting relationships between service users and staff. The impact of the service is also described from a service user's perspective. (Edited publisher abstract)
Men with learning difficulties doing research: challenging views of learning difficulties
- Authors:
- INGLIS Pamela A., SWAIN John
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 27(3), May 2012, pp.339-352.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper explores the views of seven men with learning difficulties living in a medium secure unit in the UK. Reflecting findings from a doctoral thesis based upon a research project where the participants looked at the processes and concepts of research, the dialogues within the study were analysed using critical discourse analysis. Thesis aims relevant here include investigating given ‘truths’ about the positives of having a learning disability. The men are not only categorised as having a learning difficulty, but also have the added stigma of being offenders, and commonly having mental health issues which expose them to the worst of myths surrounding learning difficulty. Despite this, the findings suggest that the men are very positive about their lives – reporting that they have many attributes and talents – and view having a learning difficulty as an advantage at times. This affirms ideas on the way that dominant knowledge may be challenged.
Effective responses to offenders with intellectual disabilities: generalist and specialist services working together
- Authors:
- ELLEM Kathy, WILSON Jill, CHUI Wing Hong
- Journal article citation:
- Australian Social Work, 65(3), September 2012, pp.398-412.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
The prison system can be particularly traumatising for people with intellectual disabilities, often involving victimisation, segregation, and isolation. Prevalence figures for prisoners with intellectual disabilities ranges from 2.6% to 39.6%. This paper reports on the life stories of 10 people with intellectual disabilities, who had been imprisoned in adult correctional facilities in Queensland. The life stories were gathered from a series of in-depth interviews conducted over a period of 12 months with ex-prisoners (7 men and 3 women) aged from 26-68 years at the time of the first interview. Supplementary data were also gathered from semistructured interviews with 6 practitioners from disability, mental health, and ex-prisoner services. The findings showed that the pathways taken by these 10 people into and out of prison were marked by significant abuse, neglect, and poverty. Significant disparity and disconnection was also displayed between the policies and service approaches, particularly between the disability, mental health, and correctional systems in Queensland. Based on these findings, a framework for practice, which spans both generic and specialist services, is suggested.
Women with intellectual disability in secure settings and their mental health needs
- Author:
- BEBER Elizabeth
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 6(3), 2012, pp.151-158.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Despite the lack of empirical evidence to support their development, services for intellectually disabled women offenders have grown up in the UK within both the NHS and the independent sector. This article describes this development and outlines what is known about their mental health needs. It draws on what is known historically about the subject, findings from the current literature and the author's own personal knowledge of these specialist services. It appears that services for women with intellectual disability have largely developed out of mainstream forensic and learning disability services, either male or mixed gender services. Although there is some literature on offending in the intellectually disabled population as a whole, little of this is specific to women. Despite this, the evidence there is suggests that women continue to require secure services and that they have significant mental health needs. The clinical characteristics of women who populate these services include having a milder degree of intellectual disability, high levels of violent offending, high rates of deliberate self harm and a high likelihood of a diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality disorder. The author suggests that there is a need to improve secure services for women in mainstream psychiatry, although further work is required around outcome measures for this group.
Accused of murder: supporting the communication needs of a vulnerable defendant at court and at the police station
- Author:
- O'MAHONY Brendan M.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Learning Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 3(2), 2012, pp.77-84.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Witnesses or defendants with psychological vulnerabilities such as learning disabilities may be disadvantaged in understanding questions and the implications of the answers that they provide. The Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 introduced the role of the Registered Intermediary to the criminal justice system allowing vulnerable witnesses to have access to communication experts to facilitate communication during police interviews and whilst providing testimony at court. This paper examines the interaction between an intermediary, a vulnerable defendant and barristers and the judge in a courtroom. The aim of the paper is to consider how the communication needs of vulnerable defendants should be addressed in the criminal justice system. The defendant was a young adult assessed as having an IQ of 66 and a receptive vocabulary score similar to that which might be expected of a 7-year-old child. The defendant had been charged with murder and had entered a plea of self-defence against the charge. The paper highlights the complexities of the language that is used by lawyers in the courtroom and the difficulties that this can cause for a vulnerable defendant. Additionally, it reveals the difficulties that the police caution can present to a vulnerable suspect in custody.