Do disabled people experience discrimination in the Criminal Justice System?
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) launched a Criminal Justice System Inquiry in March 2019 as an important part of its strategic plan.
The EHRC want to improve access to justice for everyone by ensuring anyone accused of a crime is able to participate effectively in the criminal justice process.
This inquiry is looking at whether people with mental health conditions, cognitive impairments (including problems with a person's thinking, communication, understanding or memory) and neuro-diverse conditions (including autism and ADHD) are experiencing discrimination and being put at risk of miscarriages of justice due to a lack of support.
The EHRC have now launched two surveys for criminal justice professionals, defendants, the accused and their supporters to contribute to the formal inquiry.
Professionals working in the criminal justice system can take part in the survey here:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/QW2K1/
Defendants, the accused and those who support them can contribute here:
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/UR1EI/
An easy read version of the accused survey is also available.To request this please e-mail
Please note: the survey is not yet open to the judiciary or court staff working in Scotland, England and Wales.
All information including the terms of reference and updates on the inquiry publication date are available on the EHRC website at https://equalityhumanrights.com/en/inquiries-and-investigations/inquiry-does-criminal-justice-system-treat-disabled-people-fairly.