Chiefs science advisor for the Justice System Ian Lambie joins Mike Hosking, to talk about brain injuries potentially playing a part in recidivism.

Research shows there are a range of behaviours, disorders and injuries in both youth and adults that keep criminals in the system and prevent rehabilitation.

Lambie has described it as a silent epidemic, saying better health and education around brain injuries could help prevent people from entering the system.

"It's harder for them to navigate the court system once they're in it and harder to actually gain benefit from the therapeutic program, so it makes it far far more difficult to actually get out, and more likely to re-offend."

Lambie listed Teina Pora as an example, who confessed to a murder he did not commit.

He says if Pora had more support his life may have been different.