Police encounters with individuals perceived as having intellectual or developmental disabilities: an examination of encounter characteristics from two studies
Policing: An International Journal
ISSN: 1363-951X
Article publication date: 29 March 2022
Issue publication date: 24 May 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Very little is known about the frequency and nature of police contacts with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DDs). The purpose of the study is to examine the characteristics of police contacts with persons with I/DD and how they differ from other behavioral health-related encounters.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors draw on data from two large National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded studies of police response to mental/behavioral health crises and the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) approach. Both projects used the same incident report form. The authors examine detailed information from 219 calls in which officers perceived that the subject had I/DD, either alone or co-occurring with a mental illness or substance use disorder and compared them with calls in which I/DD was not indicated (n = 1,305).
Findings
Calls with subjects with I/DD most frequently occurr ed in homes or on the street and were resolved without formal action. The most frequent subject symptoms/behaviors noted were confusion and anxiety. Some differences from calls with individuals without I/DD were noted in term of presentation and outcomes.
Research limitations/implications
Data relied on officer perception of subject having I/DD, which may miss more subtle indicators.
Social implications
There is a need for specific research attention to police contacts with persons with I/DD that differentiates those contacts from other behavioral health-related encounters.
Originality/value
There is still much the authors do not know about police contacts with persons with I/DD. However, findings provide a preliminary glimpse into the nature of these contacts and suggest they may differ somewhat from other behavioral health related police encounters.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The research reported in this article was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (No: R01MH082813) to Dr. Compton and (No: R01MH096744) to Dr. Watson. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The Chicago data were provided by and belongs to the Chicago Police Department. Any further use of these data must be approved by the Chicago Police Department. Points of view or opinions contained within this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Chicago Police Department.
Citation
Watson, A., Phan, M. and Compton, M.T. (2022), "Police encounters with individuals perceived as having intellectual or developmental disabilities: an examination of encounter characteristics from two studies", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 45 No. 3, pp. 393-402. https://doi.org/10.1108/PIJPSM-12-2021-0168
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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