ABSTRACT
This chapter continues the narrative of the journey through the criminal justice pathway by considering the speech, language and communication needs (SLCN) of individuals once sentenced. The content considers disposal to prison or to secure hospital settings, and compares the two locations.
Detail is offered on the topics of the prison service, the probation service, the role of offender managers, and how this role dovetails with the work of speech and language therapists (SLTs) when considering the rehabilitation of people with SLCN in prison. The journey of a person entering prison is explained from early days in custody to release.
The care provided in secure hospitals is outlined with information on levels of security, how care and treatment is defined and how risk-reduction work is supported by SLTs. The progression from admission to hospital to community discharge is defined. A strong case is made for the use of multi-disciplinary formulation with exemplar case studies provided.
The chapter allows the reader to appreciate the severity of SLCN within the sentenced population and to be left with no doubt that the SLCN of this population are exceptionally high and overtly complex. While some professionals might feel that their communication style is accessible, this chapter challenges every clinician to enhance accessibility via practical guidance.
