Anita Gibbs’ article “It’s my brain why don’t they get that my brain is different?” (2025) explores the experiences and needs of neurodivergent probation service users. The paper highlights how conditions such as FASD, ADHD, autism, and other neuro-disabilities are both under-identified and frequently misunderstood in criminal justice settings, leading to disproportionate harm and criminalisation. Gibbs draws from research, practitioner experience, and lived experience to advocate for neuro-informed practice, approaches that recognise brain-based differences, reduce punitive responses, and create systems of support that enable fairer, more humane outcomes for people in probation services.
