Leaving Prison Disability Support: Examining the Links Between Disability, Risk and Release from Custody – Desktop review summary
In 2024, the CIJ was engaged by the National Disability Insurance Agency to examine the links between disability supports, risk and release from custody. This research project looks at people with disability who commit serious violent or sexual offences. It aims to better understand the relationships between these factors and explore models of support for this group of people.
The initial part of the project, the Desktop Review, is now complete.
You can read the full Desktop Review here
The Desktop Review uses evidence from 103 pieces of Australian and international literature.
Some key findings from the Desktop Review include that:
- there is very limited research on the support needs of people with disability who have committed serious violent or sexual offences when they are transitioning from prison, and when they are living in the community.
- existing Australian evidence suggests complex and compounding barriers mean people with disability often do not receive the right supports in prison or when they leave custody.
- there is a significant gap in research on how to best support people with disability leaving custody, particularly in the Australian context.
- only 12 of 103 sources included the voices of people with disability and involvement in the criminal justice system.
The next part of the research will include interviews with people with disability who have committed serious violent or sexual offences and focus groups with professionals who work with them.
This part of the project will be completed later in 2026.
