PurposeThere have been few studies about the prevalence of substance abuse and links to offending behaviour among those with intellectual disabilities. This paper aims to address this issue.Design/methodology/approachThis baseline audit describes: the prevalence of alcohol and substance misuse in patients within a forensic intellectual disability service; and the introduction of a Drug and Alcohol Awareness Course. In total, 74 patients were included in the audit.FindingsRoughly half of the patients audited had co‐morbid harmful use or dependence with the problem being equally prevalent in men and women. Whilst alcohol and cannabis were the commonest drugs of abuse, cocaine, stimulants and opiates were abused by a small but significant number. Of those with harmful use or dependence, 35 per cent had used the drug in the immediate lead up to their index offence. A diagnosis of personality disorder and past history of convictions for violent offences was significantly more likely to be present in the group with harmful use or dependence. There were no differences on major mental illnesses or pervasive developmental disorders.Practical implicationsThe high prevalence of substance abuse makes it an important risk factor that could determine treatment outcomes. Forensic intellectual disability units need replicable substance abuse targeted treatment programmes that can be formally audited and evaluated.Originality/valueFindings are discussed in relation to service planning and treatment outcomes from forensic intellectual disability services.

(2015) The moral reasoning abilities of men and women with intellectual disabilities who have a history of criminal offending behaviour. Legal AbstractPurpose. The current study had the following two aims (a) to examine the moral reasoning abilities of four groups of people: (i) men and women with IDs who had a documented history of criminal offending, and (ii) men and women with IDs and no such history, and (b) to examine the relationship between emotional and behavioural problems and moral reasoning. It was predicted that (a) there would be no significant difference between the moral reasoning of men and women with IDs, (b) men and women with IDs who are not offenders will have "developmentally immature" moral reasoning in comparison to offenders, and (c) moral reasoning will significantly predict emotional and behavioural problems. Methods. Sixty-eight men and women with mild intellectual disabilities (IDs) with and without a history of criminal offending were recruited and asked to complete measures of intelligence, moral reasoning, and emotional/behavioural problems.Results. As predicted, men and women did not have different moral reasoning, but offenders did have "developmentally more mature" moral reasoning than nonoffenders. Women had higher levels of physical and verbal aggression, while offenders, generally, had higher levels of psychopathology. Women with a history of criminal offending had higher levels of sexually inappropriate behaviour compared to men and women in the community. Moral reasoning significantly predicted emotional and behavioural problems. Conclusions. Further work in this area is needed, and interventions that aim to address a moral developmental "delay" may be beneficial in reducing recidivism amongst this population.Running head: MORAL REASONING