"NO-ONE KNOWS"

Prisoner's Voices

Experiences of the Criminal Justice System by Prisoners with Learning Disabilities and Difficulties by Jenny Talbot

This report was put together by the Prison Reform Trust and the Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.  The report was written by NO-ONE KNOWS, a programme run by the Prison Reform Trust.  NO-ONE KNOWS aims to make a difference to people with learning disabilities caught up in the criminal justice system.  Although the report is now three years old, it's findings and exploration of the areas of this difficult subject is still relevant.

The report gathers data from all UK justice administrations, including England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  The judicial systems and resources are very different for them all and this is acknowledged in the report.

The evidence in the report is gathered from interviews with prisoners identified as having learning disabilities or possible learning difficulties (such as dyslexia or autism) along with a comparison group for those identified as not having learning difficulties.

In the stages prior to arrest, being arrested and being at court a number of problems were identified for people with learning disabilities. These included self-harm, suicidal thoughts or gestures. and being at the mercy of the police and judicial system - either not understanding what was going on or feeling being taken advantage of by the people in authority.

Problems encountered in prison by people with learning disabilities included not understanding prison rules and procedures (in either written or spoken form).  Some prisoners often did not understand the process through which they had arrived in prison (although they knew the reasons for their being there).  Several prisoners with learning difficulties often felt caught in a Catch-22 situation where, due to their learning difficulties, they could not complete prison-based programmes that would enable them to achieve parole or shorten their sentences.  Reading and writing difficulties were also common, although these were remedied sometimes by education programmes such as Toe-by-Toe.  Crucially, there was a sense of increased exposure to ridicule and bullying by other prisoners.  It was also much harder for these people to return to the community after their sentence was completed.

The report's conclusion is that the criminal justice system does not recognise and hence cannot support offenders with learning difficulties and calls for an overhaul of the system in this area.  I strongly agree with one recommendation in that fewer sentences should be handed out to offenders with learning difficulties, particularly low-level offenders and those who are no threat to the public.  Greater efforts should be made in the community to provide appropriate services these types of offender.

I believe this report should be seen by Members of Parliament, as well as those with an interest in the justice system and learning disabilities.