Description
The criminal justice system can be a complex and intimidating system for anyone, including persons with an intellectual disability. Picture This: A Guide to the Criminal Justice System is a handbook to help people who have challenges understanding or communicating to understand the justice system and the services that may be available to them.
Whether the person is a victim of a crime, a witness or has committed an offense, the guide uses pictures and plain language to explain the criminal justice system to them. If a person with an intellectual disability has to go to court, the handbook is available to help him or her to understand what to expect, who will be there, what might happen during the proceedings and who can help them.
The Picture This Helper’s Guide, which accompanies the handbook, shows Crown prosecutors, victim services coordinators, police, parents, guardians and support people how to use the handbook to explain the court system to a person with an intellectual disability. It includes such tips as: how to explain what it means to “be against the law” by using examples that are relevant to the person.
Picture This: A Guide to the Criminal Justice System and the Helper’s Guide were published by Public Legal Education and Information Services of New Brunswick in collaboration with the Department of Public Safety Victim Services Program, Government of New Brunswick.
For more information about the guide, please contact NBACL.