1. Headway – the brain injury association The Justice Project

2. Objectives
Raise awareness of brain injury and its effects throughout the criminal justice system;
Help the police and others identify if someone they are in contact with has a brain injury
Ensure brain injury survivors receive appropriate support – e.g. appropriate adult support;
Provide brain injury survivors with specialist legal advice and representation;
Divert people with brain injuries away from the criminal justice system where appropriate.
Raise awareness of brain injury and its effects throughout the criminal justice system;
Help the police and others in the criminal justice system identify if someone they are in contact with has a brain injury, through Brain Injury Identity Cards and raising awareness;

3. Why?
Research
Published evidence from around the world indicates that there
is a high prevalence of offenders with brain injuries and that having a
brain injury increases the risk of reoffending.

4. Why? UK
Two UK studies of offender populations showed that over 60% reported head injuries.
(Williams, W. H. et al (2010) Traumatic brain injury in a prison population: Prevalence and risk for re-offending.)
(Williams, W. H. et al (2010) Self-reported traumatic brain injury in male young offenders: A risk factor for re-offending, poor mental health and violence?)

5. Why? Around the world: US – Washington State 87% of inmates had a TBI
(Slaughter et al Brain Injury: : )
Australia
82% of participants with at least one TBI
65 % with a loss of consciousness
(Schofield et al Brain Injury: 2006; 20(5) )

6. Why? New Zealand 86% of respondents had sustained a TBI
A high rate of recurrent TBI was found- 57%
(Barnfield & Leathem Brain Injury 1998; 12 (6) )
US California
Freedman et al
12 out of 16 (75%) men sentenced to death in California had a history of brain damage
(Social Science & Medicine 2000; 50: )

7. Why? Experience of brain injury survivors
Being arrested for being drunk and disorderly on 3 occasions
Treated like he was just another drunk
No real interview, just name taken and put in a cell
No understanding of brain injury and its effects
Scared and felt like a criminal

8. Effects of brain injury
Impaired memory
Difficulties in processing information/following instructions
Mobility or speech problems
Communication difficulties
Emotional/anger problems
Impulsivity/poor decision making

9. Making good progress
Strong support from the National Police Chiefs Council
16 Headway groups and branches are currently involved in a three-month pilot, including Cardiff and Merthyr Tydfil.
Roll-out to all groups/branches and public launch.
Continuing to work with the police, National Appropriate Adult Network, Liaison & Diversion services.
First Brain Injury Identity Cards issued this week

10. Brain Injury Identity Card