(LD): My Lords, there are many good initiatives in this
White Paper—problem-solving courts, identifying mental illness and
brain damage as a factor in crime, and developing robust
alternatives to breaches of community sentences, which normally end
in custody at the moment. But they all depend on resources that
have not hitherto been made available. Given that increasing the
length of sentences not only has a direct effect but leads
indirectly to the inflation of other sentences in comparison, the
Prison Service will be at the front of the queue, desperately
needing resources, and all these initiatives will be at the back,
will they not?
(Con): I do not think they will, my Lords. Neurodivergent
individuals—who I think the noble Lord was talking about—are very
overrepresented in the criminal justice system and need more
support. The White Paper understands that, will work effectively
and, I hope, put more resources into it. The MoJ, working with
the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for
Education, is leading a refresh across the whole of government,
particularly on the autism strategy, which is
relevant to a large part of this cohort. It is important that
that improves data capture on autism and ensures
enough training and awareness about these people among the
justice family, particularly when looking at prisons and the
probation service, so that, rather than not understand them, we
can support these individuals better.
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