The Surprising Connection Between Brain Injuries and Crime
TED talk given by: Kim Gorgens
Kim Gorgens states in a TED talk that a significant amount of TBIs occur in inmates. She states that 50-80% of people in the criminal justice system have experienced a TBI. Most of the TBIs in this field resulted from physical assault.
Gorgens speaks about how inmates are likely to be rearrested. Sometimes the inmates don’t understand why they can’t stay out of jail. Gorgens states that TBIs are likely contributing to the cycle of being arrested, released, and then rearrested.
Gorgens was part of a team in Colorado that attempted to break that cycle. Gorgens and the team assessed inmates’ brains through neurological testing. The team then wrote reports to the justice system with personalized recommendations for the specific inmate. The team also wrote a letter to the inmate being tested including tips to help manage the deficits found. An example of a recommendation found in a report would be to carry a notebook with you if a TBI has resulted in memory deficits.
She stresses this program is not excusing inappropriate behavior, or the behavior that resulting in being arrested. The program is more about providing advice and steps to help counsel the inmate to break the cycle. It shows the justice system things that an inmate cannot do, to show what behaviors are not defiant.
Gorgens shares a story about a person named Vinny who was hit by a car. After the accident, he spent a significant amount of time in jail. Vinny was given as assessment that showed he struggled with his memory. Some functional life skills were implemented in Vinny’s life like learning how to use his phone to set reminders of appointments and learning how to keep a checklist. Vinny is now back to work. This is the first time since his injury 15 years ago that he has been unsupervised by the court system. Gorgens states this method helps the inmates see themselves differently, as well as the system seeing the inmates differently.
I chose this TED talk for my first neuro note because I am interested in learning more about brain injuries and neurological testing. This TED talk allowed me to further my knowledge of brain injuries by discussing the effect of TBIs in a population that I do not have a lot of knowledge about. This TED talk helped explain the rate of brain injuries in the criminal justice system, but also provided a potential solution to the problem.
When Gorgens was talking about doing an assessment to find out the inmate’s deficits, and then telling them functional ways to improve or compensate for the deficit, I was thinking…. Isn’t this what OT is all about? I have learned that OT can be in the criminal justice system, and one of its roles is to help inmates gain the skills needed to reintegrate themselves into society. OT’s can help inmates gather functional skills to help improve or compensate for their deficits after having a brain injury. When Gorgens was stating how she writes the reports to help the inmate see they are capable of change and give them advice on how to overcome their struggles, I was thinking how OT does that in all populations all the time. OT helps restore hope and give strategies to overcome differences and difficulties, just like Gorgens and her team did.
I have learned the incidence of brain injuries in the criminal justice system and the effects the injuries can have on the cycle of rearrests inmates experience. The assessment Gorgens and her team did showed the inmate their deficits after a brain injury. I have learned in his course how different areas of the brain have different functions. It makes sense why each inmate had different deficits associated with what part of their brain was injured.
I would recommend this TED talk to anyone interested in brain injuries, or the criminal justice field. After hearing this TED talk, I have gained a new perspective on helping inmates overcome their struggles and helping them break the cycle of rearrests.
Gorgens, K. (2019, April 25). The surprising connection between brain injuries and crime.
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