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The Australian Institute of Criminology has today released a report by researchers from Monash University on the issues experienced by young people with acquired brain injury (ABI) when involved with the criminal justice system. It shows:
- ABI is often accompanied by a range of other conditions and complex trauma, including family neglect and violence, other forms of victimisation and substance misuse.
- Young people with ABI often have difficulty comprehending complex legal processes and are often unable to instruct lawyers because they cannot contemplate the long- term consequences of their actions.
- The justice system has difficulty responding to the needs of this client group, often due to a lack of awareness, understanding and training among professionals.