Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 2 of 2
Young people with learning disabilities who sexually harm others: the role of criminal justice within a multi-agency response
- Author:
- FYSON Rachel
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 35(3), September 2007, pp.181-186.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This paper outlines the key findings from a recent study of statutory service responses to young people with learning disabilities who show sexually inappropriate or abusive behaviours, with a particular focus on the involvement of criminal justice agencies. The study found that although inappropriate sexual behaviours were commonplace in special schools, and that serious acts of abuse including rape had sometimes occurred, education, welfare and criminal justice agencies struggled to work together effectively. In particular, staff often had difficulty in determining the point at which a sexually inappropriate behaviour warranted intervention. This problem was frequently compounded by a lack of appropriate therapeutic services. In many cases this meant that no intervention was made until the young person committed a sexual offence and the victim reported this to the police. As a consequence, young people with learning disabilities are being registered as sex offenders. The paper concludes by addressing some of the policy and practice implications of the study’s findings, particularly those which relate to criminal justice.
Young people with learning disabilities who show sexually inappropriate or abusive behaviours
- Author:
- FYSON Rachel
- Publisher:
- Ann Craft Trust
- Publication year:
- 2005
- Pagination:
- 63p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- Nottingham
This research project, which commenced in April 2001, was funded by the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund for three years and was run jointly with the Centre for Social Work at The University of Nottingham. The research looked at the current situation for adolescent abusers to find out what interventions might have been helpful and what would be beneficial in the future regarding the prevention of any further abusive behaviour.