Disability and Law Enforcement Personnel: Perceptions from the Rocky Mountain Region of the USA

Publication Date

2-14-2019

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Individuals with disabilities, Law enforcement, Rocky Mountain region, Perspectives

Abstract

Individuals with disabilities report being less satisfied with law enforcement services compared with the general population, and most law enforcement jurisdictions often lack protocols and report training and resource barriers to effective interaction and communication with individuals with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of law enforcement personnel regarding interaction and communication with individuals with disabilities in order to enhance training and technical assistance. Data were collected from 19 law enforcement personnel who participated in focus groups in the Rocky Mountain region. Four main themes emerged from the data. The first three described professional interactions with individuals with disabilities: (1) interpersonal skills, (2) complex responsibilities, and (3) conflicting expectations. The final theme represents actionable recommendations for training and practice: (4) improvement opportunities. Implications for further assessment and training opportunities, along with future research, are provided.

Publication Statement

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