Identifying Autism and ADHD in the youth justice service: An audit of diagnosed and suspected neurodiversity in out of court referrals.

This article focuses on an audit examining the prevalence of neurodevelopmental conditions, specifically Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), among young people engaged with the East Sussex Youth Justice Service (YJS) through the Out of Court Resolution (OOCR) pathway. The audit of 319 cases from April 2024 to April 2025 found that 20.1% had a confirmed diagnosis of ASC, ADHD, or both, while an additional 37% were awaiting assessment, indicating a high level of unmet neurodevelopmental needs in this community-based cohort. Males were more likely than females to have a diagnosis, and those diagnosed were more frequently involved with Children's Services, particularly as Looked After Children or under Child in Need plans. The findings highlight the complexity of this population and suggest the need for further research into how neurodevelopmental diagnoses influence justice outcomes and service provision.