Staff at the LANC have long been concerned that a certain group of children with ADHD are much more vulnerable not only to long-term underachievement but are entering the youth justice system. In particular the combination of the impulsiveness of ADHD, together with specific learning difficulties, autistic spectrum difficulties, the early onset of disruptive behaviour or conduct disorder, and usually but not always the issues of either low socioeconomic status or various environmental difficulties make a youth much more vulnerable to such difficulties.
Dr Kewley has been very involved in this area since the mid 1990s. He has spoken widely on the topic to a range of professionals and has on several occasions spoken at the Youth Justice Board annual conferences. He has expressed concern at the stance taken by many in the field that youth justice issues are almost solely related to parenting or environmental or social issues. He considers that whilst it was noted that these issues are important, that it is important that the neurodevelopmental elements must be taken into consideration. If an adolescent is biologically more impulsive, has associated learning issues and does not understand social nuances then he or she is much more vulnerable to ongoing difficulties. This is particularly applicable if the child has been excluded from school.
UK data confirms that about 45% of youth in youth offending institutions have ADHD. Many in the field find it difficult to acknowledge that youth with ADHD are biologically more impulsive and therefore more likely to offend and indeed to re-offend. This is not an excuse, rather an explanation.
The centre considers that it is important that there be a screening of youth who offend both before the court case, whilst in institutional care, and prior to discharge. Data from the US shows that re-offending rates can be reduced from 65% to 10% to 15% by effective multimodal management of ADHD including medication where appropriate. An awareness of ADHD and specific learning difficulties is very important in the education in prison programmes, and in programmes designed at preventing re-offending.
Dr Kewley is on a working party arranged by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, other colleges and most of the key players in the field looking at health and education issues in children in insecure accommodation currently.
The centre frequently works with the legal system in assessing and managing youth who have entered the youth justice system and it is never too late to effectively manage such youth. Dr Kewley has written on the topic.
