Participation and Justice

Participation and Justice Process Assessments

Independent assessment of the practical factors affecting effective participation within legal and justice processes.

A quiet professional meeting room prepared for participation support

I provide independent assessments that consider the practical factors affecting a person’s ability to participate effectively within legal proceedings.

My assessments consider how factors such as trauma, autism, ADHD, executive functioning, mental illness, learning disability, cognitive impairment, sensory differences and communication needs may affect participation throughout the justice process.

Recommendations are tailored to the individual and may assist legal representatives, the police and the court in identifying barriers to participation, reasonable adjustments and practical measures that may support effective engagement.

The assessment service is available for discussion. The wider evidence-informed framework and associated professional resources remain in development.

Framework development

Evidence-informed areas of practice and development

Current work includes the development of an evidence-informed assessment framework exploring:

Functional participation within legal proceedings

Executive functioning and everyday decision-making

Trauma-informed participation planning

Autism and neurodiversity within the justice process

Communication needs and reasonable adjustments

Equality Act considerations

Courtroom participation planning

Witness familiarisation and preparation

Participation profiling

Practical recommendations for participation

Multi-agency participation planning

Important Information

Participation Assessments are intended to complement, rather than replace, the functions of the court, legal representatives, Registered Intermediaries or other professionals involved in the justice process. Participation Assessments provide independent professional opinion regarding factors that may affect an individual’s participation within legal proceedings.

Depending upon the circumstances of the case, recommendations may also assist consideration of participation needs during police investigations and interviews conducted under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE). Decisions regarding their implementation remain matters for the investigating authority and, where appropriate, the court.

Assessments are independent, evidence-informed and individually tailored, recognising that effective participation depends upon the interaction between the individual, the demands of the justice process and the support available.

Get in touch

If you would like to discuss whether a Participation Assessment may assist your case or organisation, please contact me for an informal discussion.

Get in touch