Greater investment in speech and language therapy within the Scottish criminal justice system is needed to help cut re-offending rates, according to a new study.
Research conducted by Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh and the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) looked at the type and scale of current service provision and where improvements could be made. The results suggested that there is a “huge unmet need”, with very few offenders receiving effective help to improve their communication skills.
Around 60 per cent of those in contact with youth justice services in Scotland are thought to have speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) which can have a very detrimental impact on their lives. Offenders with poor communication skills may have difficulties expressing themselves and understanding the speech of others. This can make it hard for them to make the most of the rehabilitation facilities available to them. Individuals who have problems communicating may also be less well equipped to live successfully outside of the criminal justice system, making them more likely to re-offend
The study found that speech and language therapists were working across all areas of the criminal justice service but that most provision was at the custodial sentencing stage. Very little support with communication was given to young people before they offended or after they left prison. “Although the value of speech and language therapy is recognised in prisons, the system is lacking assistance for young offenders still living in the community – assistance which may help prevent individuals re-offending”, said Ann Clark of Queen Margaret University. She went on to highlight poor staffing levels as a prime source of the problem, stating that “although the criminal justice system is receiving many hours of work from speech and language therapists, it appeared that only two therapists had their contracted hours within the system protected.”
