Training and capacity building for frontline justice staff

Directorate: Justice Strategy & Programs

Division: Strategy Policy & Commissioning

Project summary

To provide training that develops an increased understanding across the justice sector to enable staff to better identify and respond to the needs of people with a cognitive impairment.

Focus Area:

• Developing positive community attitudes and behaviours.

Project objective

Develop a schedule of training to be delivered to frontline justice agencies on identifying and responding to the needs of people with a cognitive impairment in contact with in the criminal justice system..

The challenge

To provide an increased understanding across the justice sector to identify and respond to the needs of people with a cognitive impairment.

Why is this important?

Building on the skills of frontline staff to better identify and respond to the needs of people with a cognitive impairment can allow for improved engagement and outcomes for this cohort.

The proposed project aligns with the following outcome areas for the DIAP:

• Attitudes and behaviours (removing barriers by changing the way people interact with people with disability)
• Accessible systems and processes

What will success look like?

• Uptake of training across the sector.
• Improved understanding of cognitive impairment and disability across frontline staff in the justice sector particularly for police officers across the state.
• Development of embedded an training strategy for working with people with a cognitive impairment across the sector.

How will you measure success?

Evaluation of the delivery of training and capacity building content.

Status report

Current Status: Progressing

Date: September 2023

September 2023

From July 2022, JAS also delivers a court-based diversion service at six NSW local courts to provide opportunities for defendants with cognitive impairment charged with low-level offences to access support as an alternative to conviction.

June 2022

IDRS is hiring a training and education team to develop and delivery training to Justice staff, inlcuding judicial officers, Legal Aid and ALS and NSW Police Force. 

Between April- Jun 22 the service has been focussed on training and capacity building for JAS staff (advocates and volunteers) to better support JAS clients and their interacations with the criminal justice system. 

May 2021

Building on the skills of frontline staff to better identify and respond to the needs of people with a cognitive impairment can allow for improved engagement and outcomes.

DCJ has engaged the Justice Advocacy Service (JAS) currently delivered by the Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS) to provide this training. 

JAS is currently finalising facilitation guide and specific materials. These will be utilised for future training. 

JAS has been extended for another four years. Training and capacity building for frontline justice cluster agencies will continue under the revised program.

All milestones completed:

• Scope, identifiy stakeholders, develop resources
• 6 month scheduled training completed as at 30 June 2021.