The first ever Irish conference on neurodiversity and the criminal justice system is now open for bookings.

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.

Neuro-diverse include those with autistic spectrum disorder, ADHD and intellectual disability.

Behaviours

The goal of the conference, is to provide attendees with an updated 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 event is suitable for clinicians, researchers, judiciary and advocates.

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 conference is organised by Dr Blanaid Gavin, Dr Etain Quigley, Professor Fiona McNicholas and Ken Kilbride, ADHD Ireland.

Speakers

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.

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 and mental health and has worked extensively on mental health and social care policy and legislation.

Research

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.

Tickets cost €150 per person and are on sale through Eventbrite.