New Bridge and neurodiversity in prisons

Volunteer Zoë has written a blog post to mark Neurodiversity Celebration Week: 17th-23rd March 2026.

A bit of background to my interest in neurodiversity in prisons. Firstly, when I became a school support assistant, my first pupil was an enthusiastic and energetic boy aged 9, diagnosed ADHD and autistic. I knew virtually nothing about neurodivergence then, about 10 years ago, so I got a book and read up about ADHD. One fact stayed with me, about how much more likely an individual with ADHD is to get caught up in the Criminal Justice System. Impulsivity and challenges with focus can lead to difficulties with following rules and self-esteem can take a huge knock. Seeing that young boy before me it was hard to hear. Data now suggests that at least half of the prison population is neurodivergent. Recently diagnosed autistic myself and volunteering for New Bridge for a year now, I have been researching and reflecting on imprisonment and the befriending relationship through a neurodivergent lens. 

There have, over the last ten years or so, been a wealth of reports written about the over-representation of neurodivergent people in the criminal justice system, including the notable Government ‘Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System’ review of evidence in 2021. This review helpfully raised the profile of the need for staff awareness training, better screening and the need to get different agencies working together.  It’s quite a lengthy document which ranges across the criminal justice sector to include police, courts and probation alongside prisons. There are some helpful practical suggestions in the areas in which neurodivergent people might particularly struggle, such as with written and social communication, with their environment and with sensory challenges. There are examples of good practice, many around multi-agency working and adapted communications such as Easy Read Documentation. The report led to the creation of the new role of Neurodiversity Support Managers (NSMs), now in post in most prisons, to support those whose neurodivergent conditions include autism and ADHD but also ABI (acquired brain injury) and dyslexia, with other conditions too. In the women’s estate there is work being done to identify and support the significant number of women with ABI caused by domestic abuse.

Earlier this year (January 2026) the Final Progress update on the Action Plan from the 2021 review was published Briefly, it evidences that training and awareness raising is happening, so that reasonable adjustments are being offered. There is greater partnership working with the NHS ADHD pathways and specialist charities. An Additional Learning Needs Tool was created at the end of last year to be used within education provision, to identify strengths as well as additional learning needs. The question remains, what is done with this data and how are strengths channelled into meaningful activity to build back up that damaged self-esteem? The Neurodiversity Support Manager role is definitely making a difference to the environment in some prisons. I’ve seen this on one of my visits where a prisoner was able to bring along ‘fidget toys’ (to relieve anxiety). He also had a card he could show to an officer if he was feeling overwhelmed and unable to respond immediately to a request. I would have valued my own ‘fidget’ but of course that’s not allowed for visitors, something to think about another day!

Crucially, what has been a thread throughout this review and the action planning is the need to involve prisoners themselves in designing services and adaptations to the prison environment. This ‘lived experience’ view is not always given the priority and status it deserves - it’s difficult and often takes time for a neurodivergent individual to trust in the system, and to build constructive relationships. 

This is where New Bridge befriending can, I would suggest, make a huge difference to building the confidence to self-advocate and the foundation for self-belief. Neurodivergent strengths may include hyperfocus on a ‘special interest’, attention to detail, kindness and acceptance of difference, and a love and commitment to the care of animals and nature. Backed up powerfully in New Bridge’ service evaluation reports, prisoners are clear about the value of having that one person to listen, to really listen, and to take time to get to know them. This might be a process over many weeks or months or years, crucially at the pace of the befriendee. Where within the prison system (with routines and regimes not unlike school) a neurodivergent prisoner may feel that they again don’t fit, now they have someone who non-judgmentally meets them where they are at. In prison, inconsistent staffing and unexpected changes to routine can cause great distress, but their befriender will be consistent and honest. If they say they will visit they will do their very best to be there. They follow through on what they say, and don’t make promises they can’t keep. There are rules and boundaries which make both sides feel safe. If a neurodivergent prisoner has a ‘special interest’ the befriender will try listen and try to connect.  I’ve had some great crime thriller book recommendations from my befriendees! I could go on! Acceptance and connection on the individual’s own terms and at their pace is key. Befriending offers this gift to both parties. This is of course true of all befriending relationships, but it might offer something particularly valuable to this over-represented group of prisoners. 

By Zoë (current volunteer)