Supporting people with an acquired brain injury (ABI) involved in the criminal justice system: justice and allied health professionals’ insights

Concerning rates of acquired brain injury (ABI) among adults and young people involved in the criminal justice system raise questions about support needs and issues that they face within, and at the juncture between, community-based service systems and criminal justice systems. Data from two studies in Victoria Australia, between 2015 and 2021, highlight key issues that experienced professionals identify as contributors to the repeated cycling through the criminal justice system of people living with an ABI. Systemic issues including poor ABI-literacy; failure to identify, assess or diagnose an ABI (especially among young people); insufficient specialist ABI services; inadequate care coordination and holistic, ongoing community support; and poor integration and information-sharing between custodial and community-based services lead to inappropriate and indifferent responses and attitudes. Our findings, discussion and recommendations provide insights to assist justice and allied health professionals, and to policymakers to thwart patterns of entrenchment in the criminal justice system.