A national network committed to improving support for people who have difficulty with communication and understanding, and are at risk of, accused, or convicted of committing a crime. This includes people with learning disabilities, autism, foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, acquired brain injury, or other cognitive or neurological impairment. Delivered in partnership with People First Scotland.
SOLD aims to reduce offending and improve support for offenders with significant communication support needs in Scotland. We do this by:
The work of SOLD is funded by the Scottish Government Community Justice Division.
SOLD is led by a partnership between People First Scotland and ARC Scotland. Support and guidance for our work comes from a User group of people with learning disabilities and/or autism who have experience of the criminal justice system, and an Advisory group of professionals, which includes a representative from the User group.
Prevent and reduce offending and improve support in the justice system in Scotland for people with cognitive and neurological impairment.
Find out morePrevent and reduce offending and improve support in the justice system in Scotland for people with cognitive and neurological impairment.
Find out moreThere are over 360 members of SOLD from a broad range of backgrounds including voluntary sector, Police Scotland, NHS, social work, Scottish Courts, Crown office and procurator Fiscal and Scottish Government.
SOLD is delivered in partnership with People First Scotland and the National Autistic Society, who ensure the voices of people with cognitive and neurological impairment guide and inform the work we do.
Allan Speirs gives his experience of being a man with learning disabilities in a police interview. Presentation given at the SOLD event, March 2017.
Watch the video
Report from the Supporting Offenders with Learning Disabilities Network.
Find out moreThis report seeks to inform and guide local and national planning and practice related to improving support for people with learning disabilities whose behaviour brings them into contact with the criminal justice system and to reduce offending by them.
See the SOLD website soldnetwork.org.uk
Follow SOLD on Twitter
Contact: Tony Bowman – [email protected]
0131 663 4444 or 07508 503968
Find out more
SOLD is funded by the Scottish Government Department of Community Justice.
Advice on how to recognise when a person has difficulty with communication, how to communicate more effectively, and information on the various supports that may be available to help.
Brings together information for all those who work with these children and young people in any setting – in the community, through services, at school or in a residential setting – and combines this with words from the young people themselves.
People with communication support needs in the Scottish criminal justice system
People with learning disabilities in the Scottish criminal justice system
An overview of some key challenges and opportunities for change that will help improve support and reduce offending amongst people with learning disabilities in Scotland
Allan Speirs gives his experience of being a man with learning disabilities in a police interview.
