The Association for Criminal Justice Research and Development (ACJRD) has a stellar line-up for its 1 November conference on neuro-diversity and the criminal justice system.

The full-day conference at the Law Society in Blackhall Place, Dublin 7 is organised in collaboration with ADHD-Care, a joint initiative of UCD, Maynooth University and HADD-ADHD Ireland.

The aim of the conference is to draw together a range of speakers from different professional backgrounds who work with people who are neuro-diverse including those with autistic spectrum disorder, ADHD and intellectual disability.

Strategies

The goal is to provide attendees with an up-to-date understanding of the impact of neuro-developmental conditions on offending behaviours and to highlight practical strategies that have been shown to be effective in working with individuals who are neuro-diverse within the criminal justice system.

The keynote speaker is Professor Susan Young who has extensive experience in the assessment and treatment of offenders with mental illness and/or mental disorder, specializing in forensic neuro-psychology and ADHD.

Forensic psychiatrist

Professor Dame Sue Bailey OBE DBE, is a consultant child and adolescent forensic psychiatrist and professor of child and adolescent mental health. She will speak about her  clinical and research work in the field of young offenders who commit serious crimes.

Professor Bailey has been an expert witness at numerous trials of young offenders. She is also the author of a number of books on young offenders' mental health and has worked extensively on mental health and social care policy and legislation.

Research focus

Speaker Dr Lena Lundholm is a clinical psychologist whose key research focus is ADHD, substance abuse and the relationship with crime. She has also worked in management in a Swedish prison and probation service.

The conference chair for the day will be Judge John O’Connor.

Booking details will be published shortly on the ACJRD website.