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Identifying offenders with an intellectual disability in detention in The Netherlands

Hendrien L. Kaal (Social Work and Applied Psychology, Leiden University of Applied Sciences, Leiden, Netherlands)
Henk L.I. Nijman (Altrecht Aventurijn, Bilthoven, Netherlands)
Xavier M.H. Moonen (Graduate School of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour

ISSN: 2050-8824

Article publication date: 9 June 2015

214

Abstract

Purpose

The Dutch Custodial Institutions Agency has commissioned a number of research projects on offenders with intellectual disabilities (ID) in prison. A continuing problem has been that it is not known what the prevalence of ID in Dutch prisons is, and how to identify ID in individual detainees. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

With this in mind a screening instrument (screener for learning disabilities and intelligence (SCIL)) has been developed that screens for IQ < 85. This instrument has been piloted in four different penitentiary institutes.

Findings

The papers briefly describes the results of the studies preceding the pilot before turning to the pilot itself. The pilot shed light on what considerations need to be taken into account when implement screening for ID in the current prison system, and on the potential added value for prison staff of knowing whether a detainee possibly has an ID. In addition, the pilot gave some insight into the characteristics of Dutch prisoners.

Originality/value

The main conclusion is that the SCIL can be successfully implemented within these settings, provided that sufficient attention is being paid to the advance instructions to staff and to the introduction of the screening to the detainees.

Keywords

Citation

Kaal, H.L., Nijman, H.L.I. and Moonen, X.M.H. (2015), "Identifying offenders with an intellectual disability in detention in The Netherlands", Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, Vol. 6 No. 2, pp. 94-101. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIDOB-04-2015-0008

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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