A report published by the ADHD Foundation claims that there has been “a five to tenfold” increase in the prevalence of people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Britain’s jails compared to the general population rate, reports the Justice Gap. One in four prisoners in Britain is estimated to have ADHD.
The report says that recognizing ADHD in prisons and managing it appropriately could reduce criminality by 32 percent for men and 41 percent for women. But the Guardian reports the CEO of the foundation as saying, “People with ADHD don’t have a criminal gene. They aren’t more likely to become criminals.” According to the study, around 96 percent of prisoners with ADHD have co-morbidities, including substance use, conduct and personality disorders. There is currently “no consistent approach to diagnosing, managing and treating ADHD across the criminal justice system,” the report says, emphasizing that care needs to be continued after release from prison to reduce recidivism.