My professional specialism is neurodivergence in the Criminal Justice System, including autism, so I was interested to attend a parole hearing as an observer.
At this parole hearing, I was sitting next to an IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection) prisoner, whose autism was documented by NHS Wales under the headings ‘Behavioural Support for Mr X’, ‘Reasonable Adjustments’ and ‘Triggers’.
This sheet had been submitted to HMPPS and, I assume, was part of the bundle forwarded to the Parole Board. However, the interactions demonstrated no understanding of basic autistic factors. For example, Mr X was asked how someone might react to a certain sort of behaviour when it is known that people with autism cannot see things from others’ point of view. Additionally, there were not sufficient breaks to help compensate for inevitable stress levels always associated with autism.
In my professional contacts with the Parole Board and the HMPPS lead on IPP, I have flagged up the communication and behavioural issues that accompany autism. I have come to the conclusion that autism should be taken into account as a possibility in considerations of provisions for people serving an IPP sentence. I welcome more research into this overlap.
Indeed, prisoners serving IPP sentences are often directed towards courses which may involve lengthy waiting times and changes of establishment – both stressful for people with autism. This condition has been present in all but one of those with an IPP sentence who have been in touch with me through Quakers in Criminal Justice (QICJ); this cannot be a coincidence and is confirmed by one of the family support groups.
QICJ have a long-held concern for IPP prisoners. This is informed by members of QICJ who have an IPP and those with lived experience who have served alongside people with this devastating sentence. We welcome the termination of the IPP after a certain time in the community but are all too aware of the hopeless situation of those still in prison. We are not alone in mistrusting the effectiveness of the Strategy Objectives, Action Plans, Progression Boards, priority access to courses, consultation with family boards, staff training and ‘timely high-quality preparation for release’– all part of a ‘delivery plan’ for IPP prisoners, but with no allocation of additional funding (confirmed to me by HMPPS lead on IPP) in a prison system that is in perpetual crisis.
