Hughes, N., Chitsabesan, P., Bryan, K., Borschmann, R.  Swain, N., Lennox, C. and Shaw, J. (2017) Language impairment and comorbid vulnerabilities among young people in custody. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, Early View Version: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcpp.12791/pdf

The paper confirms high levels of language and communication impairment among young people in the youth justice system in the UK, much of which seems to be previously unidentified and unsupported.  It further demonstrates that many of these young people experience comorbid vulnerabilities in social communication, nonverbal cognition, self-harm, and substance misuse. We therefore argue that earlier identification of language difficulties requires routine assessment of young people at risk of engagement in offending behaviour, and that those with identified language difficulties require holistic assessment and support. This implies a need for speech and language therapy provision within youth justice services, as well as in other services accessed by young people at risk of engagement in offending.