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More speech & language therapy
needed to cut re-offending
EW UNIVERSITY RESEARCH has highlighted the need for a greater investment in speech and language therapy
within Scotland’s criminal justice system to help prevent re-offending.
Following the most comprehensive study of speech and
language therapy within Scotland’s criminal justice system,
the research identified a huge unmet need, with few offenders
receiving adequate help to improve their communication skills
– skills which could better equip them to live more successfully
and prevent a return to criminal activity.
It is known that around 60% of young people in contact
with youth justice services have speech, language and
communication needs. Poor communication skills can have a
serious and detrimental effect on people’s lives. Difficulties in
expressing themselves or having problems understanding and
interpreting someone else’s speech can make it impossible for
the individuals concerned to make best use of any rehabilitation
services that might be on offer. Therefore, poor communications
skills may go some way to accounting for the high rates of re-
offending which has a negative impact on the individual young
person, their community and society at large.
The aim of the recent study, conducted by
QMU and the Royal College of Speech and
Language Therapists (RCSLT), was
to support the campaign to improve
speech, language and communication
services within the Scottish justice
system. It also helped to identify the
type and scale of the current service
provision within the system and where
service improvements could be made.
Most of the speech and language
therapists, who responded
to this scoping exercise,
worked in adult learning
disability, and children and
young people and adult
speech and language
therapy services within
the criminal justice
system.
The survey found
that speech and
language therapists
were working
across all areas
of the criminal
justice service
but that most
provision was
at the custodial
sentencing
stage.
There was very little speech and language support for young
people prior to entering prison (pre-offending stage) or after
leaving prison.
Ann Clark, Senior Lecturer in Speech and Hearing Sciences at
QMU, said: “Although the value of speech and language therapy
is recognised in prisons, the system is lacking assistance for
young offenders still living in the community – assistance which
may help prevent individuals re-offending.
“So much more could be achieved within the criminal justice
service but staffing levels are just not adequate”, said Ann.
Currently there is only one dedicated speech and language
service in Scotland’s criminal justice service, at HMYOI Polmont
and HMP Cornton Vale, and this service is only available for
21 hours per week.
the research identified a huge
unmet need, with few offenders
receiving adequate help to improve
their communication skills
Ann commented: ”Worryingly, although the criminal justice
system is receiving many hours of work from speech and
language therapists, it appeared that only two therapists had
their contracted hours within the system protected.”
In HMYOI Polmont it is estimated that approximately 450
prisoners out of 760 young men are likely to have speech,
langu