Ahead of the announcement of a general election last week, the Ministry of Justice said that all public prisons across the two nations, including those for young offenders, will have new staff members, dedicated to supporting and identifying neurodivergent offenders.
The specialist staff will work to ensure neurodivergent prisoners are quickly identified and given access to education and training opportunities that will help with rehabilitation.
This includes preparation for transition to the community including things like support for future job interviews. Further measures will be in educating other prison staff in de-escalating volatile situations and assisting with speech and language needs.
Pavan Dhaliwal, chief executive of charity Revolving Doors, said: “Ensuring that they [neurodivergent prisoners] are able to access appropriate support, and that the justice system is responsive to their needs, is key to breaking the cycle of crisis and crime.
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