New research indicates almost half of male offenders have a brain injury

07 January 2013

Largest UK study adds to growing calls to tackle brain injury within criminal justice system.

Almost half of adult male prisoners have a brain injury which could be contributing to their repeat offending, a new study carried out by Dr Ivan Pitman on behalf of The Disabilities Trust Foundation indicated today.

A total of 613 offenders admitted to HMP Leeds were asked to respond to six questions as part of a standard health screening.

Of these, 289 (47%) reported a serious blow to the head that had rendered them very dazed or confused - a widely recognised indicator of TBI.

The findings are significant because a brain injury can affect someone's judgement, memory and behaviour, and this 'hidden disability' can go unrecognised.

• In depth interviews were carried out with 139 of the 289 men who had sustained a TBI. The results indicate that:
• almost three quarters (73%) had sustained their first injury before committing their first offence - which may reveal a causal link between such injuries and offending
• 43% had been in prison on 5 or more occasions
• 92% had experienced a mild or moderate TBI and 8% a severe TBI
• 30% had experienced more than 5 TBIs
• the mean age at which the first TBI was sustained was 18

Comparisons with a control group of 50 offenders without TBI appear to indicate higher reoffending rates and a higher reported incidence of anxiety and depression.

Previous research has shown that the cumulative effects of mild to moderate brain injury can have as much impact as a single severe injury, and may adversely affect someone's ability to take part in rehabilitation. Given that today's research shows that 30% of those interviewed had sustained more than 5 TBIs, the finding has particular significance.

With the high social and economic costs of offending, the Foundation believes that tackling the effects of TBI through training for professionals who deal with offenders and simple measures to - for example - accompany someone to ensure they attend a probation appointment, if they have TBI-related memory problems, could make a significant difference.

The Foundation has already placed a specialist brain injury linkworker within HMP Leeds to create a sustainable network of support for offenders with a TBI both before and after release. This aims to reduce the chances of the individual reoffending.

It is also hoped that the Brain Injury Screening Questionnaire (BISQ) used in the research, and the TBI training for professionals which the Foundation has developed, can be introduced in prisons and across the criminal justice system.

The study findings will be subject to full peer review before publication in an academic journal during 2013.

Deborah Fortescue, Head of The Disabilities Trust Foundation, said: "This research, our training for professionals and our linkworker service make an important and practical contribution to current thinking across the criminal justice system about a possible link between brain injury and offending.

"It is clear that robust screening for TBI, combined with cost effective support measures, could and should be put in place to reduce the chances of these offenders committing further crimes. The high social and economic cost of offending makes TBI an urgent and obvious area for action not just in prisons but across the criminal justice system.

She added: "HMP Leeds have provided invaluable support and have led the way for other prisons."

Barrie Oldham, Chief Executive of The Disabilities Trust, said: "Thousands of people across the UK are living with the 'hidden disability' of brain injury which often goes unrecognised, undiagnosed and unsupported. The Foundation will continue to find new ways of supporting people who have these disabilities and whose needs are not being met by existing services."

Read details of the research and support schemes form the Disabilities Trust