Young offenders and criminal justice
Briefing documents on young offenders with communication difficulties:
Speaking Out Briefings
Study looking at language and communication difficulties in young offenders
A research project was carried out, ending in 2004, headed by Professor Karen Bryan of the University of Surrey, in partnership with the prison service and local speech and language therapists (SLTs) to examine the effect of speech and language therapy in young offenders institutes. The former Chief Inspector of Prisons, Lord Ramsbotham, was on the advisory group. This briefing document on the two-year study funded by the Helen Hamlyn Foundation, looked at language and communication difficulties in young offenders and the implications for service provision.
Children's Communication Coalition (CCC)
The Children's Communication Coalition (CCC) for England brings together national organisations, experts and service users who are speaking out for all children with communication disability within the criminal justice pathway.
Registered Intermediaries
Registered Intermediaries play an important role in allowing vulnerable witnesses and defendants with communication needs equal access to justice. Some vulnerable witnesses, victims and defendants need assistance with communication and understanding in order to give their best evidence - intermediaries assist them in communicating during an investigation and at trial. Intermediaries will help to make the justice process accessible to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. In some cases an intermediary will be the difference between a witness being able to testify or not.
Please read our briefing for more information.
Resources to help improve communication with young people in the youth justice system
This publication has been written for everyone that works or volunteers in Youth Offending Teams (YOT), Secure Children’s Homes, Secure Training Centres and Young Offenders Institutions (YOI). Its purpose is to improve understanding and communication with young people, particular those with communication needs.
Sentence Trouble has been produced in partnership by The Communication Trust, The Dyslexia SpLD Trust, the Autism Education Trust, the Royal College of Speech, Language Therapists and the Association of Youth Offending Managers and the Youth Justice Board.
PDF publication of Sentence Trouble
For more information on the RCSLT's criminal justice and young offenders campaigning activities contact Claire Moser or tel: 020 7378 3023