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Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System

8/31/2021

Neurodiversity is a viewpoint that brain differences are normal, rather than deficits. The idea of neurodiversity can have benefits for kids with learning and thinking differences. This concept can help reduce stigma around learning and thinking differences.

Neurodiversity: What You Need to Know - Understood.org https://www.understood.org › articles › neurodiversity-wh...

I think the important thing is that it is the POWER of NEURODIVERSITY ---- NOT the POWER of PERFECTION.

Further, our POLITICAL CLASS and ARTISTIC / CELEBRITY CLASS are sometimes / often going OFF THE RAILS. I think there are lot of reasons for that.

Many of these people do have amazing STRENGTHS, ABILITIES and TALENTS -----but STRENGTHS, ABILITIES and TALENTS often bring with them their own WEAKNESSES.
We don't want to spend most of our time on WEAKNESSES -- but we do need to spend SOME --- MAYBE 20% on WORKAROUNDS.
If we're telling these people at the TOP ---- they don't have any weaknesses--- we're producing a NIGHTMARE SCENARIO for the person and everyone else.

Neurodiversity in the criminal justice system: A review of evidence

July 21, 2021

Really whether people are at the TOP, BOTTOM or Middle of Society ----

We need to be spending 80% of the time on STRENGTHS-DEVELOPMENT and 20% on Workarounds for Weaknesses --- when it comes to THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES.

To me what the TOP and BOTTOM have in common is ACUTE SENSITIVITY / REACTIVITY to the ENVIRONMENT.

Neuro-Diverse People at the Bottom of the Society

Education is doing better than any segment of society --- but there is a lot of room for improvement there
Employment is AT-WILL
Most Mental Health Professionals much less Employers are NOT well versed in ACCOMMODATING Executive Functioning Differences

Our Justice System is often CRIMINALING problems with ORGANIZATION, TIME MANAGEMENT, etc.
When we have JUSTICE-INVOLVED PEOPLE who would prefer PRISON over PROBATION because PROBATION is TOO STRESSFUL --- that among a MYRIAD of other PROBLEMS is forcing a RE-IMAGINING of CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

Case Management

8/30/2021

--- INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT is NOT going to be enough for some Justice-Involved people with cognitive disability.

Many Justice-Involved People need Supportive Housing and Assertive Community Treatment . ACT involves access to a multi-disciplinary team --- 24-7 on an as needed --- prn basis.

It must involve DEVELOPMENT & EMPLOYMENT of STRENGTHS. A lot of people who are HOMELESS or JUSTICE-INVOLVED are NEURO-DIVERSE --- NOT NEURO-TYPICAL.

It is often NOT A GOOD USE OF TIME OR RESOURCES to attempt to MICRO-MANAGE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DIFFERENCES or see that as some kind of ESSENTIAL DEFICIT---- people with EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DIFFERENCES often by definition have CURRENTLY UNEXPECTED STRENGTHS in other areas that need to be INTEGRATED INTO THE COMMUNITY.

On the other hand, understanding how to ACCOMMODATE and WORK-AROUND EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DIFFERENCES is ESSENTIAL.

Colorado and most states are providing SUPPORTIVE HOUSING,, ASSERTIVE COMMMUNITY TREATMENT, etc. ---- just not at the SCALE NEEDED.

We need on-going Olmstead Planning to bring this to SCALE over the next DECADE and continuing planning after that to modify and improve as knowledge and circumstances warrant.

Case Management for Justice Involved Populations: Colorado (2017)

Case Management is a critical issue for many homeless and justice-involved people with cognitive disabilities.

It is NOT A SUBSTITUTE for HOUSING --- but it could be used creatively to reduce the cost of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) where Intensive Case Management is inadequate.

Assertive Community Treatment and Flexible ACT Index

Strength-Based Approach

What do we need to make it in the WORLD?

8/4/2021

If all you have is SCIENCE --- maybe you take a EUGENICS PATH to Criminal Justice.
If you have SCIENCE & REASON ---- maybe you provide a ROUGH PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH to Cognitive Disabilities you can EASILY TREAT.
If you have an an EVOLVING SCIENCE & REASON & RELIGION/FAITH --- there is at the possibility of an EXPANDED ENLIGHTENED SELF-INTEREST and a CREATIVE & INNOVATIVE PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH to CRIMINAL JUSTICE that has the REASONING & MORAL TOOLS for Public Policies addressing DIFFICULT TO TREAT COGNITIVE DISBILITY in the CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.

I think religion/faith will be reformed / transformed by SCIENCE or it will fade away.

But if all you have is OUR BEST ATTEMPTS at SCIENCE & REASON --- you're going to end up with our current CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM --- and it's not pretty.

There is NO PERFECT for HUMAN BEINGS, but things can EVOLVE.

It's because Human Beings aren't perfect and their Systems aren't perfect that we need FAITH integrated with SCIENCE & REASON.

Transitional/ Translational Justice Monday

Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System

Case Management

What do we need to make it in the WORLD?

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Transitional/ Translational Justice Monday

Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System

Case Management

W​hat do we need to make it in the WORLD?

Archives

Categories

What do we need to make it in the WORLD?