No one knows: identifying and supporting prisoners with learning difficulties and learning disabilities: the views of prison staff [England and Wales]

‘No one knows’ is a UK-wide program that aims to bring about change by exploring and publicising the experiences of people with learning difficulties and learning disabilities who come into contact with the criminal justice system. It will run until 2008. This report, the first in a series of reports and briefing papers from ‘No one knows’, focuses on prisons in England and Wales and covers preliminary findings from research into the views of prison staff on how prisoners with learning difficulties and learning disabilities are identified and supported. The report first outlines the aims and methodology of the study, describes the context for prisoners with learning difficulties and learning disabilities and then presents the views of prison staff. Respondents to this study were asked questions relating to how prisoners with learning difficulties and learning disabilities were identified and supported at their prison and they were asked to comment on difficult issues facing such prisoners, the challenges to providing support, and on examples of good practice. Research findings indicate that people with learning difficulties and learning disabilities are not routinely identified prior to arriving into prison and once in prison face a number of difficulties, are more likely to be victimised than other prisoners, and are unable to access prison information routinely. They are likely to receive inadequate levels of support of varying quality and, because of their impairments, will be excluded from certain activities and opportunities. A number of early recommendations are provided.

‘No one knows’ is a UK-wide program that aims to bring about change by exploring and publicising the experiences of people with learning difficulties and learning disabilities who come into contact with the criminal justice system. It will run until 2008. This report, the first in a series of reports and briefing papers from ‘No one knows’, focuses on prisons in England and Wales and covers preliminary findings from research into the views of prison staff on how prisoners with learning difficulties and learning disabilities are identified and supported. The report first outlines the ...  [+] Show more