Priorities may change in terms how we deal with offenders, with a move towards less incarceration and increasing the role of rehabilitation, which would also save money.

Education in the prison sector may also be developed, with SLTs having a role to play. There has also been a move to working with larger, regional centres, which may allow the development of a larger SLT team delivering more specialist care.

Proposed workforce impact

• SLTs involved in the justice sector may find their work becoming more community based, rather than working in prisons or young offender’s institutes.
• There is an increased role for SLTs in the design and delivery of offender education courses.

Sources or references

• http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rehabilitation-revolution-for-prisoners-after-short-jail-terms-8443504.html
• http://www.qmu.ac.uk/marketing/press_releases/More-speech-therapy-needed-to-cut-reoffending.htm

Additional research questions

• Will there be a closer link-up between offender community rehabilitation and mainstream health services?
• Would a change in priorities be a long-term consensus, or likely to change due to political motivations?

Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.