"ADHD and the Criminal Justice System: Spinning Out of Control" is the first book devoted to how ADHD interacts with the Criminal Justice System at all levels. Patrick Hurley was a Deputy Sheriff for 17 years and a Probation/Parole Officer for 5 years. Robert Eme Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology at Argosy University Schaumburg Illinois Campus. He is an advisor to the Illinois Department of Corrections.
Read a recent newspaper article on the book >>>
I am employed at the ------ County Sheriff's Office. I work for Lieutenant ------ in the Jail. I have spent my entire life struggling with an inability to focus and maintain control over impulsive thinking.
I was diagnosed as a young man with ADHD/ADD. I took my medication and there was a marked improvement in my grades and social interaction. I stopped taking the medication due to my parents telling me that I would grow out of my condition.
For the last 13 years I have again gone back to my old ways. I always have to be the loudest, funniest, or hardest working. There was no "even keel" to me. People often joked that I suffered from hyperactivity disorder. On the outside I would play this off and laugh, but on the inside I was seriously hurting. I would use every ounce of my will power to just sit still for 5 minutes. It was so mentally exhausting that when my guard dropped, I was 10 times worse than I was before. I was fortunate enough to work in a fast paced environment. The jail affords the ADD mind several leniencies not found in an office job.
I was placed in a supervisor position and have again flourished. My current Sergeant pulled me aside one day and had a talk with me about how some people were uncomfortable with my style of supervision. At first I was furious! How could anyone tell me how to motivate my workers. After thinking about this encounter, I began to take a look at my life. It brought me back to where I was when I was 15. I dropped my guard, and my pride, and went back to my doctor. It took all of 20 minutes and the Dr. realized I was suffering. Not from a visible affliction, but that I was exhausted of keeping myself in line. I was prescribed Ritalin. I was so scared to take my medication. I didn't want to lose the person I thought I was. After taking the first pill it was as if someone lifted 1000 pounds off my back. I was so happy and at ease with who I was again. I could actually read an entire paragraph again. I could actually just sit. People take sitting for granted as its something everyone does. To me, sitting was a "death sentence" and I'd fidget, pick, and often times destroy anything around me for fun.
I went into my Sergeants office and thanked him profusely. I wish he knew how much that this has meant to me. I then went to Lieutenant ------- and low and behold, your book ADHD & THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM - "Spinning out of Control" was handed to me. Apparently you had spoken at one of the Jail schools in Des Moines. Talk about timing! Your book was my life story, without the crime of course.
So now i write to thank you. Your insight will help thousands of actively suffering adults with ADD/ADHD. It should be mandatory reading for any Officer in any department.
Your book was given to me as I was going through a rough spot in my life. So to you sir I say thank you. I know you didn't write it alone, but its seeing another man struggle and overcome that gives me what i need to maintain my course. Not just maintain, but maintain with pride. I am no longer embarrassed. I am no longer afraid to talk about it. I think that God puts certain people on this earth to accomplish certain things. You were supposed to write that book and I was supposed to given it by someone who really cares about me as an Officer and friend.
Thank you again and I will refer this book to every person I come into contact with that I see is afflicted with this silent predator.
Blue Skies,
Anonymous
A "must read" for anyone involved in the criminal justice system
from police officers, judges, attorneys, probation officers,
prison staff and counselors, to parole officials.
We feel there is extremely large population of people involved in the criminal justice system, from minor to major offenses. This book was designed to educate criminal justice officials (street cops, jail staff, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, community-based corrections, probation, prison staff and parole officials). It offers ideas on how to identify individuals with ADHD, and better understand their issues and tendencies, and hopefully help them obtain the correct help they need in order to improve their lives, and stay out of trouble in the future.
We hope this book can help society as a whole by educating officials on certain ADHD behaviors that many criminals possess, and know how to handle their traits in a way that is best for their community and the individual.
Read an excerpt from the book >>>
"I am currently an inmate at the Idaho Prison in Orofino, Idaho. I was recently sent the book "ADHD and the Criminal Justice System". I was a Ritalin kid growing up, which was before many people really knew much about ADHD. I related so much to the information and descriptions contained in this book. It seemed like the book was almost written about me specifically. The restlessness, inability to sit still and not paying attention in school settings were my classic symptoms.
I feel this book should be a prerequisite for people who are involved in the criminal justice system as it applies to my everyday experiences in life. I feel that we with ADHD are often misunderstood and often times end up in situations that could possibly have been prevented. I sit in prison and watch the news now and see people on the outside having problems that I think could be related to undiagnosed or untreated ADHD and I wish I could let them know about this.
My opinion of this book is that I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was informative and knowledgeable and easy to read. I feel it could have a tremendous positive impact on the Criminal Justice System and how people like me are recognized and treated. I hope it is read on wide scale basis and helps others as much as it helped me."
- Richard Brewer
"This book makes a valuable contribution to the literature on ADHD. If its' advice is heeded, the savings in human misery and societal dollars will be immense."
- Thomas Phelan, Ph.D
Author of "All About Attention Defecit Disorder" and
"1-2-3-Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12"
"As a psychiatric social worker for almost 20 years I have been aware of the tragedy of people stumbling into the criminal justice system who did not belong there. This book does not apologize for criminal behavior in any way, however, it illuminates the struggles of individuals with ADD which can often render their behavior incomprehensible to the professional. I particularly appreciated the lay-out of the book - I found it to be comprehensive, well-designed and well-researched. The writing style was personal and accessible without being sentimental. I also appreciated the many anecdotes which successfully illustrate the problems which ADD people face that are so often hard to describe. The problems of ADD can manifest in a vague way - but are nonetheless incredibly destructive to the individual. I think medical and mental health professionals (as well as those in the criminal justice field) will benefit greatly from this book!"
Sarah Worthington
Clinical Social Worker (New York)
"I was impressed with your convincing, research based argument of what ADHD is and how it operates. This is more information than I have ever encountered and will help bring others like myself to a level of information and awareness that is currently uncommon in criminal justice practitioner circles where ADHD is concerned."
- Sam Black
Intensive Parole Officer
6th District State of Iowa
Other quotes about the book...
"This is an excellent well researched book about ADHD and the criminal justice system. This book is a much needed resource for those who work in the criminal justice system. This book should be required for those who work in the system"
"My interest in this area is both personal and professional. My own son is ADHD and has been involved with the criminal justice system since the age of 15; I also work as a family advocate with a lot of families dealing with the same situations. The presentation of the data collected, as well as firsthand experience, provides some insightful and timely understanding into the many challenges faced by people with ADHD. I will definitely be recommending this book to the many people involved with the criminal justice system that I work with. Hopefully through education and understanding we can lower the statistics"
"As someone who's been recently diagnosed as ADHD, I've been on fire to learn as much as I can about the condition and traits. So far, along with a slew on online articles, I've read "Delivered from Distraction" by long-time expert Edward Hallowell as well as the ADHD memoir by Robert Jergen, "The Little Monster." Both of these books I appreciated for their positive outlook, even in the face of extraordinarily discouraging problems as a result of ADHD. Further, it strikes me as essential that these authors don't try to deny ADHD as just inattentiveness that can be "cured" in 20 minutes (as one book I saw on Amazon did!) or a condition that doesn't require medication. Some children and adults with ADHD perhaps don't need meds, and in fact medication doesn't work for everyone; but it's important that people seeking credible information about ADHD get an objective sense of appropriate and helpful treatment options, rather than someone's anti-drug agenda.
In terms of Hurley and Eme's book, I respect how they've done more than anyone I've read so far in documenting the research that went into the observations and information they provide. They don't quibble about whether ADHD exists or not, just state that it does, and back that up with excellent sources.
I went to the library in search of more than self-help guides on ADHD -- I was interested in the cultural and social implications of the condition because it strikes me that so many more people have it than is currently estimated. "Spinning Out of Control" was the only book I found that even touches on the wider implications of ADHD -- and the authors have done a great job defining the condition in the myriad ways it manifests in those likely to commit criminal acts as well as in non-criminals. They've done terrific work in outlining, then describing either by further explication, anecdotes, quotes from ADHDers, case histories and, surprisingly, self-disclosure what it's like to have ADHD. And they're far more comprehensive and systematic about it even than the Hallowell book I mentioned above! What I most appreciate about "Spinning" is its straightforward, distilled and no nonsense approach.
Finally, "Spinning" doesn't sugarcoat ADHD and what often happens to those who have it and don't get treatment for it. While I appreciate the positivity of Hallowell and Jergens (who both have ADHD themselves), who both understand well that ADHD can often lead to depression and pathological behavior, I was glad to read Hurley and Eme's nuts-n-bolts book. ADHD can be quite destabilizing and lead to real trouble, and the only way we can deal with it effectively on that level is to view it without rose-colored glasses. While ADHD isn't necessarily more widespread among the underprivileged, certainly this segment of society hasn't got the means nor the inclination to address what turns out to be a problem of enormous proportions. Hurley and Eme seem to be in the vanguard of people willing to address the problem on a grand scale -- isn't it about time someone does, instead of continuing to debate the existence of ADHD or morality of using drugs to treat it?
No doubt further research will show the condition to be much more complicated and differentiated among individuals than it is currently understood to be. Remember, for instance, that studies on the brain -- while more sophisticated and informed than ever before -- still aren't as complete and comprehensive as we'd like. The same necessarily must be said about ADHD. In my view, that doesn't mean we ought to take a wait-n-see posture; rather, let's begin to put what information and understanding we have together, and try to do something about it. Kudos to Hurley and Eme for their attempt to do just that."
Here is the Table of Contents
Forward
Introduction
Chapter 1: Nature of ADHD
Chapter 2: ADHD and Increased Risk of Antisocial Behavior
Chapter 3: Causes of ADHD
Chapter 4: The Initial Law Enforcement Contact
Chapter 5: Court and Judgment
Chapter 6: Probation and Prison
Chapter 7: ADHD Screening and Diagnosis
Chapter 8: Treatment for ADHD
Chapter 9: Conclusion
End Notes
Resources on the Web
References
Index
Want to learn more about the co-authors?
This book has an extensive index, for easy reference back to specific sections of the book. Take a look at the final index >>>
ADHD and the Criminal Justice System
