Inmates ‘Hindered By Low IQ Levels’

The majority of inmates at Hindley Prison have below-average IQ, according to a new study. Research found the average IQ of prisoners at Hindley is 87.11, compared with 100 in the general population.

Of the 60 prisoners who took part in the study, two had IQs of less than 70 and may have qualified as having learning disabilities. A further 14 were considered borderline.

Some 84% of the sample reported problematic drug or alcohol misuse and 85% had been excluded from school.
Of these, 37.1% had been excluded from school on more than 10 occasions.

The research was conducted by the University of Liverpool on behalf of the Prison Reform Trust.

The trust says low IQ levels will affect an individual’s ability to cope with prison life and will hinder communication and understanding.

However, the charity says despite the figures, there is no routine screening or assessment of people in prison to identify their needs.

People with learning disabilities and difficulties are unlikely to benefit, and may be excluded, from programmes designed to stop re-offending.

Many are victimised and bullied in prison.

Juliet Lyon, Prison Reform Trust director, said: “This research reveals for the first time that high numbers of people with learning disabilities and difficulties are held behind bars.

“It raises important questions about how they got caught up in the criminal justice system in the first place and whether those responsible for special education, social care and family support could have done more to prevent this.

“Men, women and children with learning difficulties and disabilities in the criminal justice system are dropped in a maze with no exit, left to wander between police station, court and prison.”

The research is released ahead of the March launch of ‘No One Knows’, a new UK-wide programme to investigate and improve the treatment of people with learning disabilities and difficulties in the criminal justice system.

Nationally it found almost 6,000 men, women and children with an IQ of less than 70 are locked up in the UK’s prisons at any one time.

Report author, Dr Pat Mottram, said: “Overall our findings show the average IQ of the prison population is 13 below the national average of 100.

“A sizeable minority has a very low IQ indeed. Many will struggle to make sense of their experience of imprisonment.

“It is important therefore that the prison regime, in particular education, health and social care and rehabilitation, takes this into consideration.”