Characteristics of prisoners with neurodevelopmental disorders and difficulties.
More than a third of male prisoners likely have NDD; they are younger, homeless, and under-educated, so behavior plans must screen and adapt for these needs.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers gave a short screening survey to 3,000 men in a large UK prison. The survey asked about autism, ADHD, learning disability, and other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD).
Staff also pulled basic facts from each man's file: age, job history, schooling, and housing status.
What they found
One in three men (36 %) scored high enough to flag a likely NDD. These men were younger, had often slept rough, left school earlier, and were out of work.
Autism and ADHD were the most common flags, but many men showed more than one condition.
How this fits with other research
Koritsas et al. (2009) show the same adult NDD group in the community struggles with life skills. Faso et al. (2016) extend that picture behind bars, adding crime and custody to the risk list.
Wehman et al. (2014) remind us that things like boredom, hunger, or loud noise can spike problem behavior in people with ID. Prison staff who see "bad behavior" may really be seeing NDD triggers.
Sappok et al. (2013) warn that quick autism tools can over-diagnose in adults with low IQ. So a positive screen in jail should lead to a full check, not a label.
Why it matters
If you work in forensic or community ABA, expect NDD at every stage. Use simple language, offer visual aids, and ask about school history—it predicts need. Push for quieter spaces, clear routines, and functional assessments that treat MOs first. Early ID plus ABA can cut re-offending and improve learning behind and beyond the gate.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have found high rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID) within the criminal justice system (CJS). However, little is understood about prisoners with neurodevelopmental disorders and difficulties (NDD) or their needs. This study aimed to identify prisoners with NDD and compare their characteristics with prisoners without NDD on a range of socio-demographic and social functioning measures. METHOD: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study carried out using face-to-face interviews with 240 participants in a London Category C prison. Standardised tools were used to assess prisoners for ADHD, ASD and ID. RESULTS: The study identified 87 prisoners who screened positive for one or more type of NDD. Participants with NDD were significantly younger and more likely to be single [(odds ratio) OR = 2.1], homeless (OR = 3.4) or unemployed (OR = 2.6) before they came into prison. They also had poorer educational achievements that those without NDD. Over 80% of those with NDD had a previous conviction or imprisonment. CONCLUSIONS: The findings confirm the presence of significant numbers of people with NDD in a male prison. Services across the CJS are required for this group; specifically, there is a need for raised awareness among those working in the CJS to improve the recognition of offenders with NDD. Services in the community need to work with individuals with NDD who are at risk of offending, targeting those who are homeless, unemployed and have poor employment opportunities.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2016 · doi:10.1111/jir.12237