Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Inpatient assessment of young people with developmental disabilities who offend
- Author:
- GRALTON Ernest
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 7(2), 2013, pp.108-116.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
A clinician working provides a brief overview of the needs of young people with developmental disabilities in a secure forensic service setting. The requirements for inpatient assessment and treatment are also discussed. The author highlights the complex nature of this population who are often referred relatively late to inpatient services, often after recurrent failings in residential services where mental disorders are commonly unrecognised. Comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment and treatment are required for this group. This paper will be useful to a range of professionals dealing with adolescents with developmental disabilities who are engaging in offending and other high risk behaviours. (Edited publisher abstract)
Pathways into the criminal justice system for individuals with intellectual disability
- Authors:
- RAINA Poonam, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 26(5), 2013, pp.404-409.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Studies focusing on pathways in the criminal justice system for individuals with intellectual disability are limited in that they only study individuals once they are involved in the system and do not consider the pathways into it. This study examines predisposing factors that lead to various outcomes for individuals with intellectual disability when police are called to respond to their behavioural crises. The police response to 138 individuals with intellectual disability in crisis were examined. Following police intervention, 15 individuals were arrested, 76 were taken to the emergency department and 47 received on-scene resolution. Comparisons between the three groups were conducted. The three groups differed in terms of residence at the time of crisis, history of forensic involvement and type of crisis. Police intervention with adults with intellectual disability can happen for different reasons. Both individual and situational predictors explained this outcome. (Edited publisher abstract)
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)
Doing good risk assessment with intellectual disability offenders
- Author:
- HOCKEN Kerensa
- Journal article citation:
- Prison Service Journal, 208, 2013, pp.31-36.
- Publisher:
- Her Majesty's Prison Service of England and Wales
An essential element to completing risk assessments for prisoners is the prisoner interview. This allows for the exploration and clarification of their history, and any progress made in reducing or managing their risk. The author looks at some of the issues to consider when caring out a risk assessment with offenders with learning disabilities. The author discusses the characteristics of intellectual disability; problems encountered with risk assessment interviews of prisoners with intellectual disabilities; suggestions for interviewing. (Original abstract)
The evolution of a therapeutic community for offenders with a learning disability and personality disorder: part two – increasing responsivity
- Author:
- TAYLOR Jon
- Journal article citation:
- Therapeutic Communities: the International Journal of Therapeutic Communities, 34(1), 2013, pp.29-40.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe practices introduced to a therapeutic community (TC) to promote responsivity for men with learning disability and personality disorder. Design/methodology/approach – This is a descriptive paper. Findings – The paper describes modifications to the working practices of a therapeutic community which have been found to increase the ability of offenders with a learning disability to engage in treatment. Originality/value – The literature describing interventions for offenders with learning disability and personality disorder is sparse. This paper provides an overview of practices that have supported offenders with a learning disability to engage in treatment designed to address both their risk and their interpersonal styles of relating. (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.
Offending by people with intellectual disabilities in community settings: a preliminary examination of contextual factors
- Authors:
- WHEELER Jessica R., CLARE Isabel C.H., HOLLAND Anthony J.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 26(5), 2013, pp.370-383.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study investigates the relationship between contemporary life experiences, well-being, choice and offending among people with intellectual disabilities (ID), exploring the relevance of two classic criminological theories (theories of strain and social control). Questionnaire measures were used to compare a range of ‘ordinary’ life experiences [the ‘Life Experiences Checklist’ (LEC)], subjective well-being (the ‘Personal Well-being Index – ID’) and the extent of choice (the ‘Choice Questionnaire’), between 27 offenders and 19 non-offenders with ID recruited through integrated (NHS and Local Authority) multi-disciplinary teams (community teams for adults with learning disabilities). Using regression analyses to explore the strength of associations with offending, it was found that an indicator of impoverished personal relationships, from the LEC provided the best predictor of offending. This finding appears to favour criminological explanations based on social control. (Edited publisher abstract)
Does familiarity breed contempt? A conceptual and theoretical analysis of 'mate crime'
- Author:
- DOHERTY Gerard
- Publisher:
- Howard League for Penal Reform
- Publication year:
- 2013
- Pagination:
- 34
- Place of publication:
- London
In this article for the Howard League for Penal Reform based on his 2013 John Sunley Prize winning masters dissertation, the author critically assesses the usefulness of the concept of ‘mate crime’, as a means of understanding offending behaviour against disabled people. The phenomenon of ‘mate crime’ occurs when crimes are committed against disabled people by those they consider to be their friends. The research found that familiarity was not a bar to hate crime offending, and that the concept of ‘mate crime’ is of significance in understanding the nature of targeted violence against disabled people. Includes are brief details of the nine unlawful killings which were subject to case analysis, eight of which led to convictions of murder for at least one of the perpetrators involved and one led to convictions of manslaughter. (Original abstract)