NCJ Number
60411
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 52 Issue: 3 Dated: (JULY-SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 243-248
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE VULNERABILITY OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED TO THE ADOPTION OF ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR AND THE ROLE OF THE POLICE IN DEALING WITH THEM ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED ARE ILL-EQUIPPED TO HANDLE THE STRESSES AND INFLUENCES OF A NONPROTECTED ENVIRONMENT. THEY ARE EASILY EXPLOITED BY THOSE ENGAGED IN CRIMINAL ENDEAVORS; IN INTERACTION WITH OTHERS, INFERIORITY FEELINGS OFTEN PRODUCE AGGRESSIVE, ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR. FREQUENTLY, THE BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOR OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED ANNOYS CITIZENS, WHO, UNABLE TO TOLERATE DISRUPTION, CALL IN THE POLICE. THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND THE POLICE OFTEN EQUATE BEING MENTALLY HANDICAPPED WITH BEING MENTALLY ILL. AS WITH THE MENTALLY ILL, FEAR AND MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE BEHAVIOR EXHIBITED URGES THE PUBLIC AND THE POLICE TOWARD CONTROL AND INCAPACITATION OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED. MANY OFFICERS, PERCEIVING THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED TO BE INTELLECTUALLY INFERIOR, OFTEN ADOPT A PATRONIZING OR BULLYING POSTURE TOWARD THEM. UTILIZING EXISTING RULES, POLICE TRAINING SHOULD INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED AND THE PROPER APPROACH FOR RELATING TO THEM IN A VARIETY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT CIRCUMSTANCES. A SENSITIVE ADHERENCE TO THE ACCEPTED CODES OF POLICE PRACTICE IS WHAT IS NEEDED. THE POLICE SHOULD NOT BE UNDULY 'SOFT' WITH THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, BUT THEY SHOULD BE FAIR. FIRM POLITENESS AND KNOWLEDGEABLE RESPONSES TO PARTICULAR BEHAVIOR ARE APPROPRIATE. THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AS OTHER CITIZENS AND DESERVE THE SAME PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR THAT SHOULD BE ACCORDED ALL CITIZENS. (RCB)