Project Guide-Communicating Effectively with Victims and Witnesses with Severe Disabilities

2013

Barbara Wheeler
[email protected]
323-361-3829

People with severe disabilities are at risk for abuse and victimization. Because perpetrators are frequently known to their victims, the victim may be the only witness to the crime, yet law enforcement personnel may not interview the victim (or witnesses who may have disabilities) because they assume that these individual will not be reliable witnessses, or officers may be uncomfortable communicating with this population. In 2006, under a grant from the DOJ Office on Violence Against Women, the USC UCEDD, in collaboration with the LAPD developed a 2-hr training video/DVD to increase the comfort level and skills of law enforcement first responders and detectives in interviewing crime victims and/or witnesses with disabilities. The DVD includes videotaped segments of a police officer asking questions of individuals with a variety of disabilities, including cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, autism, and those who use assistive technology.

Interviewing, Crime victims with disabilities, Law Enforcement

Electronic Products

Professionals

Electronic (disc, CD, 508 compliant web posting)

[email protected]

N/A