Language difficulties and criminal justice: the need for earlier identification

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Linguistics

Background:

• Over 60% of UK youth in justice services have undiagnosed speech, language, and communication difficulties.
• Early language deficits are linked to literacy issues, educational failure, and increased offending risk.
• Current identification and remediation opportunities for language issues are insufficient before youth enter the justice system.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the language skills of children aged 11-17 in a secure children's home.
• To identify the prevalence of speech, language, and communication difficulties in this vulnerable population.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 118 males was evaluated using four Comprehensive Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF) subtests.
• The British Picture Vocabulary Scale (BPVS) was also administered to assess language skills.

Main Results:

• Approximately 30% of participants exhibited language difficulties (1.5 SD below the mean).
• Only two participants had a prior record of language issues, despite recognized vulnerabilities.
• Comorbidities included mental illness (20%), drug abuse history (50%), and looked-after status (31%).

Conclusions:

• Routine speech, language, and communication assessments are vital for children with educational or emotional challenges.
• Population-based strategies are needed to support oral language development in young people.
• Early identification and intervention can mitigate risks associated with language difficulties in at-risk youth.