The impact of living with a brain injury in the criminal justice system is again being highlighted through the second wave of a national campaign.
The #ThroughOUReyes campaign was created by The Disabilities Trust to spark debate and change the narrative for people with complex and challenging disabilities, and how it is working through partnerships to increase support in the system.
The week-long initiative, which runs this week, will view life through the lens of people with a brain injury in prison and when they return to their community, the Trust’s linkworkers and criminal justice professionals.
A new ‘Invisible Me’ video has also been created as part of the dedicated Ask, Understand and Adapt training for health and criminal justice professionals, alongside a new brain injury pathway tool developed with support from Devon and Cornwall Police.
The Disabilities Trust has a long-standing commitment to tackling brain injury in criminal justice settings. Whilst approximately 12 per cent of the population are living with brain injury, both international research and findings from The Disabilities Trust at HMP Leeds and HMP/YOI Drake Hall have highlighted the disproportionately high prevalence of brain injuries within the criminal justice system.
To date, the Trust has provided Brain Injury Awareness Training to over 2,000 criminal justice professionals and intensive support to 500 offenders, with new partnerships to be announced as part of this second wave of our #ThroughOUReyes campaign.
It has also campaigned alongside key figures including Chris Bryant MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Acquired Brain Injury, and UK Acquired Brain Injury Forum (UKABIF) to call for screening for brain injury within the justice system, brain injury awareness training for staff and appropriate support to meet the needs of those with a brain injury.
Vivienne Francis, director of communications at the Foundation, says: “This wave of our #ThroughOUReyes campaign puts a spotlight on brain injury and offending and aims to add to the growing debate about the simple interventions that could create a huge difference to supporting the thousands of people living with a brain injury in the criminal justice system, as well as help break the cycle of reoffending.
“We are proud to launch the week with a glimpse at our Invisible Me film, which will form the basis of our new e-learning programme to give practitioners the confidence to identify the potentially long-term health, behavioural, cognitive, and emotional consequences of brain injury, which will be provided to all healthcare staff in prison across England. The film itself is a bold step forward for us; telling stories in people’s own words, presenting the challenges they face in a creative way and incorporating imagery from people with a brain injury so we can really see through their eyes.
“We will also be unveiling an audit from our linkworker service in Wales, later in the week. It is securing some great outcomes, such as 93 per cent of offenders with a brain injury adapting their behaviours and incurring less infractions and incidents after just two sessions with a linkworker, as well as new tools for officers, created with the support of Devon and Cornwall Police.
“All of the strands of this work come together to create innovation with purpose at its best – and I am so please that we can see through the lens of offenders, colleagues in the criminal justice system and others to show the impact we are making. #ThroughOUReyes is all about bringing different voices and perspectives to the fore, so we would welcome people getting involved on the issues raised.”
