Brain Injury and Criminal Justice: Reform and Innovation

Last week was a busy time in the world of criminal justice and brain injury, with the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Penal Affairs, the APPG for Acquired Brain Injury, and the 12th annual Health and Justice Summit coming one after another.  

We caught up with our Policy and Social Change Officer, Thea Arch, who attended all three and shared her reflections with us.  

The importance of leadership and culture 

My week kicked off with the APPG for Penal Affairs, chaired by the Prison Reform Trust and featuring a presentation from Charlie Taylor, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons. He talked through some of the key themes in the annual summer report from HM Inspectorate of Prisons.  

A huge range of issues were covered. But what really interested me was his perspective on what should change: More training, particularly for leadership, is needed.  

The prisons that are excelling across the country are those with excellent leaders who foster a culture of trust, autonomy, and responsibility for individuals at every level of the prison service, from the director general down to the people in prison. 

Supporting engagement with the prison regime 

These perspectives are reflected in the findings of the Brain Injury Linkworker Service Evaluation. This demonstrates how the service is proven to help move people onto the enhanced regime. In doing so, they are granted more autonomy and ability to engage in prison life.  

In this way, the service complements the kind of prison environment Charlie Taylor described; one where individuals are supported to take on greater responsibility and engage more fully in the prison regime, contributing to a more positive and rehabilitative culture.  

Promoting positive change 

It is with these reflections that I headed into my second parliamentary meeting of the week, the APPG for Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).  

MPs Sir John Hayes and Andy McDonald were in attendance, along with United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury (UKABIF) colleagues and others. Brainkind had been invited to present on brain injury and the criminal justice system, which was delivered by Dr Annmarie Burns, our Consultant Clinical Psychologist; Davina Jones, our Head of Policy, Influencing, and Social Change Programmes; and me.  

We outlined the prevalence of ABI and its effects in the criminal justice system, including for women, as detailed in our Complex Lives report. Davina Jones led on the recommendations, agreed as part of the ABI Justice Network, as to what could bring about positive change, before the conversation moved on to what should be next for the ABI Action Plan. More details on that to follow soon!  

Promoting reform and innovation 

The next day, I headed to Nottingham to attend the 12th Health and Justice Summit, a thought-provoking event centred on the theme Healthy Humane Justice.  

The summit brought together frontline professionals, academics, advocates, and experts to explore some of the most pressing issues facing the health of those within our justice system today. Speakers came from key organisations in the justice sector such as The Prison Reform Trust and the Prison and Probation Ombudsman, covering a wide range of urgent topics. Subjects included: 

• Managing risk in custodial settings 

• Deaths in custody and the need for a national approach  

• The vital role of lived experience organisations in rehabilitation and recovery 

• Breaking down siloes and complex challenges of dual diagnosis 

• Brain injury and the work of secure brain injury units in the UK  

UKABIF colleagues delivered the Lord Ramsbotham Memorial lecture, with a focus on brain injury. It was great to see the talk raise awareness and provoke discussion on the subject, and complimented the later talk delivered by Brainkind’s own Dr Annmarie Burns.

It’s always a joy to watch Annmarie represent Brainkind. She delivered an excellent presentation on the Brain Injury Linkworker Service, highlighting the impact of personalised support for individuals navigating both brain injury and the justice system.  

It was both an inspiring and informative day, full of examples of good practice and ideas for innovation in the sector.  

The week’s events offered a valuable chance to reflect on the intersections between brain injury and the criminal justice system, as well as opportunities to share ideas and connect with colleagues.  

Across both APPGs and the Health and Justice Summit, there was a clear emphasis on leadership, collaboration, and the importance of personalised approaches – themes that resonate strongly with the work of Brainkind and the Brain Injury Linkworker Service.  

As conversations continue around reform and innovation, it’s encouraging to see brain injury increasingly recognised as a key part of that picture. 

To find out more about our research into brain injury and the criminal justice system, head to our website.