People with learning disabilities and criminal justice health

It is believed that up to 30 per cent of people in prison have a learning difficulty or disability, and around 7 per cent will have an IQ score below 70 (Prison Reform Trust, 2008). 

The criminal justice system will often try and divert people with learning disabilities away from the criminal justice routes. This is to reflect that often crimes are not committed with criminal intent and health and social care services will be more beneficial than courts and prisons in reducing the risk of reoffending. 

Some prisons have specific learning disability services and employ learning disability nurses. Criminal justice health liaison and diversion schemes are often run by nurses and include support for people with learning disabilities. Some people may be diverted from the criminal justice service to a secure mental health hospital under the Mental Health Act with Ministry of Justice restrictions. 

Standard offence related interventions are often not suitable for people with learning disabilities. There are some good examples of these interventions being successfully adapted for people with learning disabilities.