Our webinar recording: supporting people with cognitive impairments in the criminal justice system

In our August webinar, our presenter was Clinical Neuropsychologist Dr Laura Anderson.

Laura provided us with a brief overview of the current prevalence rates of cognitive impairment in the criminal justice system. She also outlined the current barriers to affective assessment of cognitive impairment and how this impacts on registered rates of impairment and subsequent service delivery.

Also included in the presentation:

• an overview of the functional impact of cognitive impairment for people in the criminal justice system. This includes consideration of accurate measurement or risk and adapting offender behaviour treatment to suit responsivity factors associated with cognitive impairment.

• a discussion on the implications of cognitive impairment on reintegration needs, with particular focus on NDIS pathways.

Link to recording here.

Supporting individuals with cognitive impairments engaged in the criminal justice system slides

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About Laura

Laura is a clinical neuropsychologist with a passion for understanding and advocating for a greater understanding of the cognitive functioning of individuals who engage with the criminal justice system.

She has worked within prison settings for many years and recently joined VACRO as the Specialist Disability Practitioner and Educator role, where she provides support and training to ReConnect case managers who support participants with various forms of disability.

Laura is also an Adjunct Research Fellow in Forensic Medicine – Monash University.

Laura has conducted research as well as worked clinically within the criminal justice system and has a strong understanding of the prevalence rates of cognitive impairment within the prison system, as well as the implications  that cognitive impairment has for assessment and management of recidivism risk, offender rehabilitation, reintegration pathways and the scope of service provision. She is an advocate for a system wide approach to developing a greater understanding of, and providing a response to, the barriers that cognitive impairment pose for individuals engaged with the criminal justice system.