Neurodiversity in Prisons

“Up to 50 per cent of people entering the criminal justice system are believed to have some form of neurodivergence, compared with 15 per cent of the general population.”

Once participants complete the two-year Unlocked Graduates Leadership Development Programme, they become Unlocked Ambassadors.

Ambassadors continue to contribute to the Unlocked Graduates mission to break cycles of reoffending by using their exceptional leadership skills and frontline experience to impact systemic changes in prisons, the wider criminal justice system, and beyond.

The Unlocked Ambassador network is a peer-led programme that provides a platform for Ambassadors to engage, organise and identify problems. Unlocked play a facilitating role, enabling participant-led interactions and action.

In line with the Unlocked Graduates mission, the Ambassador Network recently came together to discuss what more can be done to address current issues around neurodiversity in the criminal justice system.

Ambassadors Matilda, Abbey, Rishika and Jessica came together to organise a mind mapping activity on ‘how to improve the journey through the Criminal Justice System for neurodivergent people.’ Discussions focused on ideal best practice, barriers in the current system, and how they can be overcome with innovative solutions. All attendees made a commitment to take an idea away from the event, and to implement it into their current roles.

Following the success of the event, the team hope to see the network grow over the next few months, with ideas being implemented in different establishments across the country:

Abbey – Ministry of Justice, Prison Policy Safety Team:

“We wanted to bring Unlocked Ambassadors, who now work in many different sectors, and current participants on the Unlocked Programme together in an informal setting to discuss and inspire ideas on how we could improve the prisoner journey for neurodivergent people through the criminal justice system.

It was a wonderful evening of thought-provoking discussion, idea creation and sharing, and generally just an evening of reinvigoration to hear a room of people speak so passionately for a cause they care about.”

Rishika – Service Delivery Manager, Spark Inside:

“We had the opportunity to plan and execute an event on a topic that is incredibly important in helping to rehabilitate people living in prisons. We hope that events like this encourage Unlocked ambassadors to network beyond their cohorts, prisons, job roles and sectors.

As a result of delivering this event, I hope to continue to learn more, challenge myself and share best practice. We are hoping to deliver by-yearly round tables for ambassadors focussing on neurodiversity, where we eventually invite key speakers and subject experts.

The evening really highlighted how close-knit our ambassador community is and it was great fun organising this event alongside some of my best friends. It has made me feel invigorated and has allowed me to focus on my own personal and professional development in my current role at Spark Inside.”

Georgia – Neurodiverse Wing Supervising Officer:

“It was so lovely to attend an event centred around Neurodiversity in prisons, something I have become ever more passionate about since working on the Neurodiverse wing at my establishment.

I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to talk at the event and share insight and experience from working with neurodivergent prisoners.”

Would you like to run your own Ambassador event or network? If so, please get in touch at ambassadors@unlockedgrads.org.uk