'Taking the wheels off': young people with cognitive impairment in out-of-home care

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Criminology
• Social Work

Background:

• Children with cognitive impairment in out-of-home care (OOHC) are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system.
• Limited research exists on the combined impact of cognitive impairment and care backgrounds on criminal behavior in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the perspectives of senior strategic officers and service providers on factors contributing to the criminalization of children with cognitive impairment in OOHC.
• To gain insights into the challenges and systemic issues faced by this vulnerable cohort.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews.
• Thematic analysis of interviews with 11 senior strategic officers and service providers.

Main Results:

• Five key themes emerged: increased vulnerability, lack of belonging/security, identification challenges, steering towards the criminal justice system, and inadequate support.
• These factors collectively contribute to the over-representation of children with cognitive impairment in OOHC within the criminal justice system.

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight critical areas for policy and practice improvement to prevent the criminalization of vulnerable children in care.
• Interventions should focus on enhancing support systems, fostering a sense of belonging, and improving identification and referral pathways.