A study of inmates at Christchurch women’s prison has found nearly every woman interviewed had a history of multiple traumatic brain injuries.

The study was cited by Dr Ian Lambie, the chief science advisor to the justice sector, who has published a discussion paper looking at the prevalence of head injuries in people who end up in courts and prisons.

People with brain injuries are over-represented in the justice system, and Dr Lambie said more could be done to deal with the problem.

Read the story on RNZ by reporter Ben Strang

Read and download the report ‘What were they thinking?’

Image credit: RNZ/Jessie Chiang.