Neurodiversity in the Prison System
This project was commissioned by a communications agency to support understanding of the experiences of neurodiverse women within the criminal justice system (CJS), alongside the perspectives of professionals working with this group. The research was designed to focus on gathering detailed, first-hand qualitative evidence.
Approach
The project used a qualitative methodology comprising individual depth interviews and professional group discussions.
Several one-to-one depth interviews were conducted with women who identified as neurodivergent and had direct experience of the criminal justice system (CJS), including police custody, court proceedings, prison, young offender institutions, probation or community supervision. Interviews were conducted remotely by telephone or online, depending on participant preference and access needs.
In addition, two online focus groups were conducted with professionals working within the criminal justice system. Participants included staff working in prisons, young offender institutions, probation services and community rehabilitation settings, all of whom had experience supporting or working with neurodivergent women. Group discussions were conducted via Teams and lasted approximately 60 minutes.
Depth interviews with neurodiverse women explored experiences of diagnosis, contact with the criminal justice system, access to support and adjustments, experiences in custody and on probation, the impact of neurodivergence on offending and court processes, and reflections on how the system could better support neurodivergent women
Focus groups with criminal justice professionals examined recognition and understanding of neurodiversity, current practices for identification and support, barriers within the system, training and guidance needs, experiences of supporting neurodivergent women in custody and the community, and views on post-release support and reoffending
All interviews and group discussions were conducted using structured topic guides, with informed consent obtained for recording. Audio or video recordings were professionally transcribed, and transcripts were provided as the final output. No interpretative report or analysis was required or produced as part of the commission.
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