1. Speech, Language and Communication Needs in Scotland’s Criminal Justice System
Dr Ann Clark and Dermot Fitzsimons,
Centre for Audiology, Speech and Language Research, QMU
31 May 2018

2. What are Speech, Language and Communication Needs (SLCN)?
Speech refers to spoken sounds…Language refers to comprehension and expression… Communication broadly refers to the unification of a range of skills to allow interaction with others.
Individuals with SLCN have difficulty in one or more of the above domains (either in understanding or expression or both)
For some, these difficulties may be mild and limited to particular situations.
For many, these difficulties are persistent, pervasive and complex” (CYCJ, 2017, pp.7-9).

3. SLCN in the Criminal Justice System
difficulty understanding what is being said to and asked of them.
difficulty making themselves understood.
Problems with learning and understanding vocabulary – especially problematic with complex, legal terminology
Difficulties with concepts related to time, working memory
Difficulties with the ability to retain, process, recall and sequence information ie it’s hard to tell ‘their side of the story’
reading, writing and spelling
poor social communication skills
Difficulties naming and managing emotions (including self-regulation) self-awareness
The impact of these difficulties
(i) less likely to understand information about the caution and legal rights
(ii) more likely to make decisions which would not protect their rights as suspects and defendants
(iii) more likely to be acquiescent… [and] more likely to be suggestible
(Clare, 2003: 251).

4. Prevalence of SLCN
Around 10% of the general population experience SLCN
Looked-after children: 58% experience SLCN, the majority of which are unidentified (No Wrong Doors, Yorkshire, DfE 2017), 63% of children in residential care (Scotland, McCool and Stevens, 2011)
Young Offenders: 60-65% have SLCN (Gregory and Bryan, 2009: Heritage, Virag & McCuaig, 2011).
Adult prisoners: 77% of adult male prisoners in a Scottish prison showed significant difficulties on language measures. 31% of these thought they experienced difficulties (Jan Green, SLT, unpublished data) = unknown and unmet SLCN.

5. What can Speech and Language Therapy add?
SCREEN – children, young people and adults should be screened for SLCN when they enter the CJS including referral to speech and language therapy services for a full assessment where the screen has identified this is necessary. NB NHS SLT services are open referral (i.e. anyone can make a referral) TRAIN - those working with, caring for, and supporting people in the CJS should be trained in awareness of communication and interaction needs and how to respond to them so that the places where they spend most of their time (home, school, prison) are able to meet their needs. SUPPORT - direct speech and language therapy should be provided to those individuals who need it. AIM: to enable the individual full and effective participation, both in the CJS and outwith.

6. Current projects
Awareness of and Support for Speech, Language and Communication Needs in Children’s Hearings, Ann Clark, Dermot Fitzsimons, submitted for publication, May 2018.
Panel members and Children’s Reporters report concerns over SLCN in Hearings. SLTs rarely are asked to attend Hearings. Children in Hearings may benefit from further SLT support.
Pausing Mid-Sentence: Young Offenders’ Perspectives on their language and communication needs, Dermot Fitzsimons, QMU PhD, 2018, supervised by Ann Clark
Similar language levels to previous studies
First study to seek YO perspectives/ Physical methods of saving face are often viewed as more effective for maintaining personal safety than verbal negotiation.
Training for SLCN in Joint Investigative Interviews, Social Work Scotland/Police Scotland, Ann Clark and others, May 2018.
Appropriate Adult SLCN Project. In collaboration with RCSLT. Funded by Scottish Government, May 2018, Ann Clark, Dermot Fitzsimons, Jan Green (Highly Specialist SLT in CJS), Aileen O’Hagan (Specialist SLT and Intermediary), Kim Hartley-Keane (RCSLT).

7. Future ideas ….?
Assessing and supporting Speech, Language and Communication Needs of People on community sentences
Supporting Social Communication on Young Offenders
SCLN and Mental Health in Women Prisoners.
Your ideas?

8. Contact us Dr Ann Clark Dermot Fitzsimons
Senior Lecturer and Speech and Language Therapist
@annjaneclark
Dermot Fitzsimons
Assistant Lecturer, PhD researcher and Speech and Language Therapist in NHS GGC
@DermotF_SLT