JAIL REPEATS COULD BE AVERTED : PSYCHIATRIST
Re-offenders who return to jail [recidivists] could be helped to avoid this tragic repetition if those who have ADHD were recognised and their condition treated, according to Sydney psychiatrist, Dr John Ellard
.Speaking in a televised National Press Club Luncheon on 23 October 1996 on the topic of Adults with ADHD, Dr Ellard, a former Commissioner for Corrective Services was replying to a question from journalist Laurie Wilson of the Nine Network.
Mr Wilson: How strong is the link between the kid who gets kicked out of kindergarten for biting and the young person who ends up in Pentridge or Long Bay ? Is there a clue to how we can bring down the numbers in our jails, particularly in the first stage of recidivism ?
Dr Ellard: Yes......From my association with the parole officers, I’m sure that a lot of the wild young men who go to jail have ADHD. If you look at the [jail] population, all the wild young men with their tattoos are there.... But by the time you get to the 30 year olds, most of them have gone.... I think they have grown out of ADHD.
I think that if we put a lot more effort into kids, into education, into helping the parents, and looking at the delinquents to see how many of them have ADHD, we could save an awful lot money and an awful tragedy.
Mr Wilson : And reduce recidivism ?
Dr Ellard: Well that’s tragedy. Yes.
This edition of the National Press Club Luncheon was developed through the initiative of Beryl Gover, Vice-President of ADDNET, the National peak body of ADHD support associations. Following the airing of this program, ACTIVE received a great many enquires from adults who suspected they suffer from ADHD.
Congratulations to Beryl and to ADDNET President Dale Stauffer and ACTIVE member Dianne Azzopardi who also participated in this important event.