This part of the website covers the legal powers and approaches taken by police, prosecutors and courts in dealing with offenders.

These pages will be of particular interest to practitioners with a statutory responsibility of care towards people with learning disabilities, as well as those who are looking for overall guidance on criminal proceedings involving victims and witnesses with learning disabilities.

For guidance on supporting people with learning disabilities through the legal process, see the supporting victims and witnesses: going to court pages. 

• Overview: Introduction to cases involving disability hate crime.
• Investigation: Police approaches to investigation and support
• Victims and witnesses: Prosecution and court measures to support those giving evidence
• Prosecution: Charges and case review.
• Court hearing: Presenting cases at court.
• Sentencing: Requesting an appropriate sentence.