RYDLE (Researching Youths with Disabilities in conflict with the Law towards improving their Employability)
reachAbility's innovative RYDLE research is the first step in addressing the issue of youth with disabilities and their relationship with the criminal justice system, in support of improved employability.
The purpose of this study, and the subsequent province-wide research, is to discover what vulnerabilities face youth with disabilities in the criminal justice system and to develop better prevention and management recommendations. It aims to inform discussions among organizations, policy makers, the public, and other researchers.
RYDLE's research objectives are:
- To discover the relationship between disability, delinquency, and involvement in the juvenile justice system.
- To identify the predominant disabilities among youth associated with the criminal justice system.
- To determine the factors associated with disability and delinquency.
- To identify solutions and or barriers which contribute to criminal behaviour among youth with disabilities.
- To establish the effectiveness of prevention, intervention, treatment, and management strategies for reducing delinquency among youth with disabilities.
- To recommended steps for increasing employability for youth with disabilities.
reachAbility's RYDLE research and report focus both on youth with disabilities who have been engaged in delinquent behaviour and those who have been directly involved in the juvenile justice system. In both groups, the existence of a disability may or may not have contributed to the youth's criminal involvement, as other factors may have had causative effects.
The RYDLE report explains the interpretation of findings, and includes conclusions and recommendations surrounding youth with disabilities in conflict with the law.
In providing solid recommendations on this issue, reachAbility believes that we can facilitate the development of resources to assist young offenders living with disabilities in accessing employment. We believe that the results of this research will also assist youth in getting off the streets and into programs, with interventions designed to overcome their specific barriers.
reachAbility's Halifax RYDLE report includes insight from service providers, legal professionals, case studies, and existing research.
The RYDLE project in the Halifax Regional Municipality was funded through the Job Creation Partnership of Service Canada, through the Government of 
YOD - Young Offenders with Disabilities Research
Beginning in the summer of 2007, reachAbility will continue its RYDLE research, under the name of "Young Offenders with Disabilities Research", focusing on communities in Nova Scotia lying outside the Halifax Regional Municipality, to ensure that all factors surrounding youths with disabilities in conflict with the law have been understood, in respect to both urban and rural communities.
If you would like further information on reachAbility and its Legal Programming, please contact:
Legal Services -- (902) 429-5878 or legal@reachability.org.
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