Responding to Neurodivergence in the Youth Justice System

Kent, Hope, Shafi, Adeela ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6265-5024, Hughes, Nathan, Ankrah, Aaron, Kyle, Shelley, Procter-Legg, Thomas, Watch, Andy, Middleton, Tristan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8111-3856, Gilmour, Stan, Whyte, Dan, Lewis, Annmarie, Momtazian, Legha ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8159-1663, Bald, Caroline and Darley, Danica (2026) Responding to Neurodivergence in the Youth Justice System. Discussion Paper. University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham.

Preview

Text (Published version) 16435 Shafi (2026) Responding to Neurodivergence in the Youth Justice System.pdf - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution No Derivatives 4.0. Download (504kB) | Preview

Abstract

In December 2025, the TRYJustice Network1 met to discuss the over-representation of neurodivergent children in the youth justice system. TRYJustice is a transdisciplinary network of academics, practitioners, and those with lived experience of the youth justice system, who meet with the common goal of reducing the number of children who come into contact with the law, and improving life outcomes for those who do. Despite clear empirical evidence that children with neurodivergent conditions are over-represented at every stage of the criminal justice system, and clear obligations under international human rights treaties to address this, the response to these children before, during, and after contact with the youth justice system remains fragmented and inadequate. In this paper we argue that the over-representation of neurodivergent children in the justice system is not one that the justice system can solve alone: It is a systemic issue requiring a systemic response spanning education, health, social care, policing, courts, youth offending teams, probation, and the secure estate. We propose ten key actions, spanning early intervention, diversion, courts, the secure estate, workforce design, funding, data-sharing, and accountability.

Item Type:	Monograph (Discussion Paper)
Subjects:	L Education > L Education (General)
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > School of Education, Health and Sciences
Depositing User:	Charlotte Crutchlow
Date Deposited:	30 Jul 2026 08:02
Last Modified:	30 Jul 2026 08:02
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/16435

University Staff: Request a correction | Repository Editors: Update this record