Language profiles of the male, juvenile, custodial population in UK

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A secondary data analysis of the language profiles, socio-cultural demographics and offending behaviours in the male, juvenile custodial population in the UK.

• IRAS ID

  171202

• Contact name

  Kim Turner

• Contact email

  kim.turner@sheffield.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University Of Sheffield

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 11 months, 27 days

• Research summary

  There is a growing body of evidence confirming that over 50% of young offenders have speech, language and communication needs (SLCN). There is though only one study (Bryan, Freer & Furlong (2007)) completed investigating the language profiles of young offenders aged from 15 to 17 years in a custodial setting in the UK. Since this study was published, the demographics of the young offending population have changed substantially; the number of young offenders held in a custodial setting has reduced from 3,000 to 1,000 and the percentage of Black, Asian, Minority and Ethnic (BAME) individuals is increasing. The proposed study will investigate the language profiles of young offenders in a custodial setting in the UK to understand the nature of their language profiles and if and how these profiles are associated with social and cultural backgrounds and offending behaviour. Identifying these profiles could inform the development of more effective interventions, which then has the potential to impact upon reoffending rates.
  This study will analyse speech and language assessment data from young offenders that has already been collected as part of the clinical speech and language therapy service at Feltham Young Offenders Institution (YOI). Therefore, the study will involve secondary data analysis of this speech and language assessment data. This will be analysed to investigate whether the male, juvenile, custodial population in the London region has comparable language difficulties to previously researched populations and explore more closely the characteristics of the language profiles. This study will extend previous studies by looking more closely at potential associations between BAME, socio-economic and socio-cultural backgrounds, offending behaviour and individuals' language profiles.
  The study aims to:
  • Identify if the Feltham population have a similar level of language difficulties to previously researched populations
  • Profile the level and type of language difficulties
  • Understand if and how profiles of language difficulties are associated with other factors

• REC name

  North East - York Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  15/NE/0262

• Date of REC Opinion

  21 Sep 2015

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion