Experts are calling for the Scottish justice system to give greater recognition to the link between serious head injuries and re-offending.
The British Psychological Society claims acceptance would lead to a reduction in the number of people going back to jail.
Academics and practitioners will address the Scottish Parliament’s justice committee today to explain what can be done to identify and treat offenders with traumatic brain injuries.
They say young people are most at risk of suffering damage as a result of falls, sporting injuries, fights and road accidents – often leading to a lack of social judgement and poor impulse control.
Research carried out by Glasgow University professor of clinical neuropsychology Tom McMillan suggests prisoners are much more likely to have had a head injury in the past, compared with society as a whole.
Another study carried out by Huw Williams, associate professor of clinical neuropsychology at the University of Exeter, found about 60% of 200 male prisoners reported having suffered a head injury at some point in their lives.
Jean McFarlane of the British Psychological Society, said: “More can be done to identify high risk individuals through screening, which would prevent crime from being committed and reduce re-conviction rates.”