Prisoners VoicesCaroline AdamsTeam Manager

“Experiences of the Criminal Justice Services by prisoners with

learning disabilities”

No one Knows; The Main Findings

This is what they found out about Prisoners with a possible learning disability

4 out of 5 found reading very hard

3 out of 4 found writing very hard

2 out of 3 found it hard to make others understand what they mean

Before getting in trouble…

Many didn’t have a job

Many of them were excluded from school

1 out of 2 went to a special school

At the police station

Only 1 out of 3 had anappropriate adult to help them

Lots of them had help froma solicitor

1 out of 2 of them did not know whatwould happen after they were charged

Some said that the police beat them up

Some felt suicidal or like hurting themselves

Some felt tricked into having anan interview by the police

Some people were not given their medication

At Court

1 out of 5 did not know why theywere in court

1 out of 3 said they would like peopleto use more simple words in court

In Prison

One person said ‘I had no extra helpeven though they knew I had a

learning disability

1 out of 2 felt scared or bullied

1 out of 2 went to educational classes

Many do not know when they will leave prison

Many do not have contact with friends and family, and spend time alone

Many would ask people for helpif they did not understand

Many would not know what to do if they felt unwell

Many have depression or anxiety

What did the report say should Change?

Everyone should have an equal service and the same chances

People should be protectedfrom abuse

Everyone should have an appropriate adult if interviewed by the police

All information should be ineasy read

If someone offends then police shouldfind out if they have a learning disability

They should be given the help they needto understand by people who know

how to help

People should have different placesto go and get help, not just prison

What are we doing in Walsall?

We have a specialist team for peoplewith learning disabilities who offend

We are trying to help the police to learnabout people with learning disabilities

and teaching them what they can do to help

We are working with probation, police and court diversion to make them aware of who

we are and how we can help.

We have different places where people can get help

We run treatment programmes in the community to help people stay out of

trouble

We find people places to live and help them when they are ready to move