Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities & the Criminal Justice System

Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and the Criminal Justice System offers a multidimensional perspective for understanding the issues, dilemmas, and gaps that justice-involved persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their caregivers face in both the criminal justice system and community-based services in Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. Initial chapters in this book review issues such as identification, risk assessments, court supports, and accommodations as they relate to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities; whereas, later chapters in the book are more focused on recognizing the unique issues and dilemmas that persons with ASD, FASD, and those labeled as a sex offender face in the criminal justice system and during intervention. Collectively, these chapters suggest that we need to adopt a framework that is flexible, person-centered, rights-oriented, and interdisciplinary for understanding the behaviors that bring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to the attention of the criminal justice system and to be effective in the interventions that reduce the risk of recidivism.

After earning a Masters degree in psychology in 1981, Marc Goldman embarked on a career in community mental health, working with children, adolescents, and adults with psychiatric impairments. Dorothy Griffiths, PhD is Emerita Professor at the Departments of Child and Youth Studies and Applied Disability Studies and former Co-Director of the International Dual Diagnosis Certificate Programme, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Voula Marinos is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Child & Youth Studies, and M.A. in Social Justice & Equity Studies at Brock University, Ontario. Samantha Stromski has a Master of Arts Degree from Brock University. Lisa Whittingham is a PhD student in the department of Child and Youth Studies at Brock University, Ontario, Canada.