ABSTRACT
Research on the criminal justice population tells us that very large numbers of those in custody and serving community sentences have a range of mental health and neurocognitive impairments. This chapter explores the impact that having mental health problems and/or so-called “hidden” disabilities such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder has upon the offender population and how these issues affect their experiences of criminal justice. The chapter explores whether women in particular have extra needs or impairments that are largely missed or masked because of a lack of expert knowledge and support from professionals and corrections staff.
