80% of children in Dorset's criminal justice system have speech and language issues
The details have been released by the Youth Justice Service
4 in 5 children (80%) who end up in the criminal justice system in Dorset are found to have speech and language difficulties.
The county's Youth Justice Service say all children who receive a court order or second caution are now assessed.
They're then given access to a speech and language therapist.
That's been in place since 2018, initially funded nationally, but now paid for by the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group.
The service says in many cases they're problems haven't been spotted at school and aren't dealt with until they've been sentenced.
Youth justice service manager David Webb has told Dorset Councillors:
“They have identified that around 80% in the youth justice system have speech, language and communication needs and in a number of cases, (and in) 30% or slightly more, that is a significant need – developmental, or a language disorder, which had not previously been recognised at school.
“That speech and language work is really important and we are now planning to run courses for others, including Dorset Police, so that when they interview children they are aware of the child’s needs. We have also done work with the magistrates in terms of what happens in the courts."
The meeting also heard that although the trend of youth offending had been downwards since the pandemic, but there is now evidence of an increase in anti-social behaviour from young people, which is being monitored.