NEURODIVERGENT prisoners at HMP La Moye face a lack of structured support, with no formal policies in place to identify or assist those with conditions such as autism and ADHD, according to an independent report.
The recently published Jersey Independent Prison Monitoring Board Annual Report 2024 found that while prison staff were keen to make Jersey’s prison more inclusive, support for neurodivergent prisoners remained inconsistent and unstructured.
“There are no formal policies in place and there is no official way of knowing how many neurodivergent prisoners are in custody at any one time,” the report reads. “The current approach operates on a case-by-case basis (i.e. the experience is dependent on the prisoner and the staff member in any given situation).”
The review examined how well the prison accommodated neurodivergent inmates, looking at areas such as staff training, education, employment opportunities and rehabilitation strategies.
It concluded that while there is a “genuine desire” among staff to be more neuroinclusive, La Moye is in the “very early” stages of developing a structured approach.
To create a more supportive environment, the board recommended the introduction of screening tools, targeted awareness training for staff and inmates and policies tailored to the needs of neurodivergent prisoners.
It also highlighted the need for a “holistic and coordinated plan” involving multiple agencies.
