The informal, nonorganizational ways police officers receive training on encounters with autistic individuals
Policing: An International Journal
ISSN: 1363-951X
Article publication date: 5 April 2022
Issue publication date: 24 May 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Given that formal training on autism is still a relatively infrequent occurrence for police officers, the objective of this study is to expose and describe the formal and informal, nonorganizationally based means police officers receive on-the-job training regarding interactions with autistic individuals.
Design/methodology/approach
Using personal networks and snowball sampling, the authors interviewed 19 police officers from multiple US police departments who reported having known contact with an autistic individual while on duty. Interviews were transcribed and coded to identify themes describing formal training and informal means to learn about autistic persons during interactions.
Findings
The authors find that many officers received formal training on mental health, though few received specific training about autism. Most commonly, officers with a personal connection to autism (e.g. a child or loved one), passed down information and techniques to other officers on how to have positive encounters with autistic individuals. Officers also passed along field knowledge of known autistic individuals in patrol areas/beats to help others have positive interactions. Lastly, community members often assisted officers by sharing information about find where an individual may be located, may live or known personal characteristics/preferences.
Originality/value
Scholars examining police contact with autistic individuals infrequently detail the point of view and needs of officers in successfully interacting with this population. This work adds to this growing discussion by exposing how officers use personal experience, informal training and community members’ assistance as a stopgap for their general lack of training on how to interact with autistic individuals successfully and positively.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the officers and police leaders that participated in this study and their willingness to discuss details regarding interactions in the field. The authors would also like to thank Michael Scott, Michael White, Charles Katz and Edward Maguire for their help with officer recruitment.
Citation
Herbert, J., Pelletier, K. and Wallace, D. (2022), "The informal, nonorganizational ways police officers receive training on encounters with autistic individuals", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 45 No. 3, pp. 466-480. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-10-2021-0143
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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