Disability Justice Service information

Fact sheet
For eligible people with intellectual disability, cognitive impairment or autism who are involved with the criminal justice system.
Last updated:

The Disability Justice Service (DJS) provides support for individuals with a primary diagnosis of an intellectual disability, cognitive disability and or autism interfacing with the justice system.

Services are supplied to the support networks (families, disability sector organisations, legal professionals, government agencies and other non-government agencies) of eligible individuals.

These services include: 

  • Advice and resource consultancy including joint planning, management, and collaboration, connecting individuals with the appropriate support networks and relevant disability and justice related services.
  • Support through a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians, through clinical referrals, capacity building sessions or consults. The team assists with targeted supports related directly to the individual to reduce the risk of reoffending and an understanding of the disability and justice related matters.
  • Delivering customised disability awareness training to agencies involved in the justice system (police, prison officers, detention centre staff, transit officers, disability support organisation staff, allied health and Court staff); and
  • DJS operates and manages the Bennett Brook Disability Justice Centre for eligible individuals who are deemed mentally impaired accused i.e. unfit to stand trial, and are referred by the Mentally Impaired Accused Review Board.