ABSTRACT
Despite vulnerable individuals, particularly those with mental health conditions and disorders, coming into regular contact with the criminal justice system, being able to successfully identify their vulnerabilities, implement the appropriate safeguards, and/or divert them away from the justice system continues to remain problematic. This chapter explores these three key issues. Current legislative guidance is drawn upon in examining how vulnerable suspects are identified upon their arrival into custody and the implementation of the Appropriate Adult is examined. The work of Farrugia (2021) explores how custody officers make sense of information regarding vulnerability and the subsequent impact upon their decision-making when ensuring that the appropriate safeguards are utilised. The use of the intermediary with suspects and defendants is also discussed. This chapter concludes with consideration of newly developed liaison and diversion services and whether they assist the vulnerable suspect in the criminal justice system.
