SLP’s Role in the Criminal Justice System

While the school-to-prison pipeline aims to increase safety, it results in more children with communication needs entering and remaining in the criminal justice system. 70% of youth in the criminal justice system have a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and 100% of individuals who received the death penalty reported a history of TBI. The cognitive-communication characteristics associated with 75-80% of individuals who experience a TBI present challenges navigating the complex social interactions and fast-paced information processing demands of the legal system. This relates to an increased rate of recidivism (recommitting an offense) for individuals with TBI (69%) compared to those without a TBI (37%). During this presentation, we will link behaviors teachers, police officers, attorneys, judges, and correction staff may observe in juveniles with potential cognitive-communication needs. For example, a child may be crying or disrupting class because they are overstimulated instead of defiant. A person may miss a court appearance because they have memory loss. Then, we will discuss treatment strategies and advocacy needs to ensure equal participation in the legal system for individuals with TBI.