The need for Government to adopt a joined-up approach to criminal justice
Today we have called on the government to adopt a ‘joined up approach’ to criminal justice by addressing the communication difficulties that are commonly a root cause of disruptive and criminal behaviour.
As Justice Secretary Ken Clarke highlighted in his ‘vision for criminal justice’ speech last week, more needs to be done to help rehabilitate offenders by addressing the causes behind offending and re-offending.
Evidence shows more than 60% of young people in youth custody demonstrate difficulties with speech, language and communication1. However, the delivery of speech and language therapy in young offenders’ institutions has been shown to reduce re-offending rates by as much as 50%2.
Communication is an essential skill required for full participation in our society. In the Bercow Review, 65% of respondents agreed resources should be directed towards early intervention, before the age of six, to ensure better outcomes for children and young people with speech, language and communication needs3.
In 2009 a study4 carried out at Moor House School in Surrey showed four-year-old children who received speech and language therapy made significant improvements in language, behaviour and social skills. The Bercow Review also highlighted that children that don’t have these needs met in the early years may go on to have behavioural problems and be excluded from school, making them three and a half times more likely to be arrested than those who complete their education.
Ken Clark’s speech was a step in the right direction but we need to offer a joined up approach to criminal justice across all government departments, especially justice, education and health, to address the root cause of criminal behaviour in our society.
Prison currently costs £38,000 per inmate, per year. However, offenders that are serving short sentences of less than a year cost the criminal justice system over £60,000 per year each5. With re-conviction rates within two years of between 70-75%, this group alone presents the country with an annual bill of over £3 billion.
In contrast, the cost of the most intensive programme of education support throughout junior and secondary school, with speech and language therapy at age six, is only £42,000. With a rising prison population increasingly made up by habitual offenders serving short sentences, the economic and social benefits of early years intervention should be obvious to us all.”
Kamini Gadhok
References
- Prevalence of Speech and Language Difficulties in Young Offenders. Bryan, K. (2004)
- Bryan, K. Prevalence of speech and language difficulties in young offenders in the International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 39, 391-400. (2004)
- Bercow Review 2008.
- Gallagher, ALS, Chiat S. Evaluation of speech and language therapy for pre-school children with specific language impairment
- Social Market Foundation "Prison Break: Tackling recidivism, reducing costs" 2010.