Further reading and case studies
Court unfamiliar with developmental disability
Ahmed
Ahmed, a young man with intellectual disability was before the court in relation to a shoplift charge. Ahmed's lawyer indicated to the court that she intended to make a section 32 application and provided a copy of a psychological assessment to the prosecutor. The prosecutor read the report indicating that Ahmed had a developmental disability but then pointed out to the lawyer that he would not be eligible for a section 32 because developmental disability is not mental illness. He was not aware of the availability of section 32 for people with developmental disability. The magistrate was more familiar with the section, cleared up the misapprehension and granted the application. The availability of section 32 for people with intellectual disability is less widely understood that for mental illness.