Law enforcement Policies on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

• In Event: Violence

Abstract

Victims of crime may visit law enforcement websites for information on how to seek help following a victimization. However, these websites may not be accessible to victims with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and therefore may present a barrier to help-seeking.

With an interdisciplinary and community-based team including violence against women scholars, a speech-language pathologist, and the national association for individuals with IDD, we conducted a comprehensive assessment on law enforcement policies for victims with IDD. We identify and detail what policies are in place – if any – around accommodations for persons with IDD across law enforcement agencies where victims may seek help. We rely on open-source information from these agencies’ websites given this would likely be the point of contact for victims seeking help. Policies were drawn from all law enforcement agencies from Ohio, Florida, Arizona, and New Jersey. Through interviews with 21 law enforcement officers, we explore their perspectives on the policies in place around accommodations.

In total, we identified 1,543 law enforcement agencies. Overall, few agencies have policies specifically for victims with IDD and largely focused on statements around non-discrimination. Officers engaged in many innovative practices yet raised concerns around the credibility if victims with IDD.

Websites and policies across law enforcement agencies are not equitable for survivors with IDD. Identification of the accessibility of websites, and the availability of policies on these websites, will generate knowledge on how to ensure survivors with IDD have meaningful access when seeking services, supports, or reporting a victimization. Findings are an impactful first step to ensuring survivors with IDD are able to fully participate and have voice in the criminal justice system.

Authors

• Brittany E Hayes, University of Cincinnati

• Cooper A. Maher, Michigan State University

• Ráchael A Powers, University of Cincinnati

• Amanda K Simmons, University of Cincinnati

• Leigh Anne McKingsley, The Arc's National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability