Neurodiversity Webinar Series: Part 4 - Neurodivergent Children in the Justice System

Neurodiverse children are overrepresented in justice system. This webinar will explore the underlying reasons for high prevalence of neurodiversity and hear from experts on how to support neurodiverse children and how to address the potential injustices for this group of children. We will hear from those with lived experience and will discuss the high prevalence of neurodiversity amongst certain cohorts, for example, children in care, and issues arising for children in the justice system. We will discuss strategies for supporting these children and how to address overrepresentation and injustices.   

Speaker Panel

Kate Aubrey-Johnson, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Kate is a youth justice specialist barrister and mediator at Garden Court Chambers with experience as a criminal defence practitioner and public lawyer. She is a convenor of the Garden Court Children's Rights Team. Kate is co-author of the leading textbook Youth Justice Law and Practice (LAG, 2019), consultant editor for Halsbury’s Laws of England, Vol 27, Criminal Procedure (5th Edition) on proceedings involving children. She is a youth justice expert and is regularly called upon to give lectures and deliver training. She is a lead facilitator for a forthcoming Inns of Court College of Advocacy course for ‘Advocacy for Children in Conflict with the Law’ and she chairs the Ministry of Justice/Youth Justice Board’s Quality of Advocacy Working Group.

Kate was Highly Commended in Every Child Protected Against Trafficking (ECPAT) UK's 'Children's Champion Awards' for her commitment to supporting child victims of trafficking. She is the former Director of the Youth Justice Legal Centre (YJLC) at Just for Kids Law.

Jennifer Twite, Barrister Garden, Court Chambers
Jennifer is a specialist in youth justice and children’s rights. Her public law practice involves taking challenges regarding the disclosure of criminal records, criminal-justice-related judicial reviews and community care. Jennifer has been involved in a number of age assessment cases involving unaccompanied age-disputed individuals.

Jennifer has been involved in a number of high-profile cases involving the rights of children within the criminal justice system at all levels up to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. Including a recent challenge in the Court of Appeal on the criminalisation of those coming across in 'small boats'. She co-authored 'Youth Justice Law and Practice' and sits as a Deputy District Judge in the Magistrates’ Court. Jennifer was Head of Strategic Litigation at Just for Kids Law for seven years before joining Chambers.

Other speakers TBC...
 

Neurodiversity in the Justice System

Our webinar series 'Neurodiversity in the Justice System', will cover a range of practice areas, recounting the experiences and examining the challenges faced by neurodivergent people involved in the justice system in England and Wales, whether as witnesses, defendants, lawyers or otherwise. These webinars will bring together experts from legal practice, academia, policy and other professionals to consider the flaws in the current system, identify instances of best practice and propound changes that could be made to improve access to justice, equality and diversity in the courts. Our previous and upcoming webinars in the series are available here.