New Training For Police - Protecting Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Recent media, such as the Netflix Docu-drama “Making a Murderer”, has brought more attention to police interactions with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, people with disabilities are nearly three times as likely to experience violent crimes. As such, officers must be prepared to respond to the unique needs of these individuals. One state, in particular, is taking strides to address this issue and making changes that could be implemented in states around the country soon. Recently, Maryland, has become the first state to introduce comprehensive training for officers to teach them how to interact with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. After an incident in 2013 where a man with Down’s Syndrome died during an interaction with the police, then-Governor Martin O’Malley initiated a process that mandated de-escalation training for police when dealing with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This year the fruits of his effort are beginning to take shape. Officers are learning the importance of staying calm, giving adequate space and exercising patience. Additionally, the state’s General Assembly has allocated funding so that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities can take part in the training to give officers hands-on experience. Extensive training on behavioral interaction for the police that protect and serve our nation is essential to maintaining both public and officer safety. Maryland is the first state to institute such a program, but more states will surely follow as we see the impact of this program.

New Training For Police – Protecting Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

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