Offending by adults with learning disabilities and the attitudes of staff to offending behaviour: implications for service development.

Abstract

The aims of this study were: (I) to identify all adults with learning disabilities living in residential homes or attending day services in the Cambridge Health District in contact with the criminal justice system during 1992; (2) to evaluate the responses of services involved; and (3) to investigate the attitudes of staff and the policies of the services to 'offending behaviour'. Details of offences committed and the response of the police, health and social services, and other agencies were obtained by direct interview with the senior staff and through examination of case records. The attitudes of staff to offending behaviour was investigated by the use of a semi-structured questionnaire. Seven (2%) out of 358 adults with learning disabilities were reported to have had contact with the police during 1992. The eight offences allegedly committed by the seven people were two acquisitive offences, two sexual offences, one assault, one wasting of police time, one offence against the Public Order Act and one traffic offence. One offender was cautioned after the Crown Prosecution Service discontinued the case because of lack of evidence, while the other alleged offenders received informal warnings. None of the seven alleged offenders were prosecuted. Three alleged offenders lived in hostel accommodation, yet hostel accommodation only accounts for 7.8% of adults with learning disabilities living in the Cambridge Health District. Because of a lack of operational policies on offending behaviour, there were no existing referral structures for people who might need specialist health service support. Referrals tended to be inconsistent, with a considerable time-lag between offence and referral. Tolerance levels towards offending behaviour were extremely high in the two hostels, 20 group homes and day centres which were included in this study. Theft and criminal damage was hardly ever reported. Thirty establishments were visited during the course of this study. Of these establishments, staff in 12 said they would always report a major assault. In only three would a sexual assault or indecent exposure always be reported if it was to occur. Staff at one residential establishment said they would hesitate to report rape and the staff in another two would consider the circumstances before reporting it to the police.