Forensic Issues in Adolescents with Developmental Disabilities

Adolescents with developmental disabilities are a complex population who require specialised treatment and care. This interdisciplinary text examines the processes involved in working with this client group in forensic settings, and explores the ways in which their needs differ from those of other young people who engage in high risk behaviour or offending.

The book covers assessment, intervention and treatment options for adolescents with a wide range of developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders, acquired brain injury, developmental traumatology, and complex comorbidities. It describes the obstacles, challenges and opportunities to consider when working with this population, and the role played by various professionals, including forensic psychiatry and psychology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, education, art psychotherapy and social work. The book also outlines the issues to consider when working in secure and community settings as well as the legal aspects of working with this client group, and the complex issues surrounding risk assessment.

The first comprehensive account of forensic issues in adolescents with developmental disabilities, this book will be an indispensible primary resource for a wide range of professionals, including child and adolescent psychiatrists, community psychiatric nurses, developmental paediatricians, social workers and youth workers, lawyers and advocates.

Introduction. 1. Complex Co-morbidity. Ernest Gralton. 2. Developmental Coordination Disorder. Hilary Haines. 3. Mental Illness. Gill Bell. 4. Epilepsy. Ekkehart Stauffenberg. 5. Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Ernest Gralton. 6. Head Injury. Jaume Morey Canellas and Ekkehart Stauffenberg. 7. Genetic Disorders. Anu Iyer. 8. Risk Assessment. Marilyn Sher, Lucy Adamson and Anne McClean. 9. Occupational Therapy. Lesley Tebbutt, Jackie O'Connell and Belafonte Hosier. 10. Education. Mel Dixon and Cheryl Smith. 11. Nursing. Ginny Smith, Dave Rodgers, Gail Smith, Simon Green and John Callender. 12. Art Psychotherapy. Mary Barnes. 13. Communication. Carol Reffin. 14. Sensory Issues. Claire Underwood and Jackie O'Connell. 15. Social Work Practice and Family Issues. Margaret Mills, Phil Webb and Junior Campbell. 16. Specific Offence Related Treatment. Marilyn Sher and Anne McClean. 17. Forensic Issues in Community Settings. Sarah Bernard. 18. Legal Issues. Theresa Flowers. 19. The Prison Perspective. Gary Risdale. 20. Service Models. Ernest Gralton. References. Index.