Criminal justice

Justice Support Program advocates can:  

• Arrange a referral to an appropriate legal service for advice or representation  

• Support you to communicate your disability needs to police, lawyers and others in the criminal justice system 

• Try to resolve the issue, particularly if you haven’t been charged 

• Advocate with service systems to get you appropriate and responsive supports (e.g. personal assistance, counselling, restorative justice, etc.) 

• Help you understand your court directions (e.g. bail, curfew, appearance dates, appointments, etc.) 

• Advocate for changes you need to stay out of the criminal justice system 

We assist people who meet all the below criteria: 

• You have a cognitive impairment (e.g. intellectual disability, acquired brain injury, foetal alcohol spectrum disorder) 

• You are involved in the criminal justice system as a suspect, defendant, victim or witness.  

• Your disability is a significant factor to your involvement in the criminal justice system 

• There is no other more appropriate service available to advocate for you 

Contact QAI on 07 3844 4200 or 1300 130 582 or use the contact form below. 

JSP has limited resources and may not be able to assist everyone who contacts us. If JSP is unable to assist you, we will always attempt to refer you to another service. 

You do not need to provide evidence of cognitive impairment to get help from JSP.  You will be required to provide some personal details JSP needs to deliver services.  As with all QAI services, all personal information is treated as strictly confidential.