A new report suggests that 60% of young people in custody have suffered a traumatic brain injury in the past. The report, Repairing Shattered Lives: Brain Injury and its Implications for Criminal Justice, was written by Professor Huw Williams who says “It is rare that brain injury is considered by criminal justice professionals when assessing the rehabilitative needs of an offender.”
Professor Williams believes that traumatic brain injury at a young age can lead the brain to ‘misfire’ and work around the problem, making it harder for individuals to ‘grow out’ of their antisocial/criminal behaviour. See more here .
Meanwhile, experts are now calling for brain screening among young offenders with doctor of neuroscience Dean Burnett putting a convincing argument in The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/brain-flapping/2012/oct/19/brain-injury-justice-young-offenders
