NCJ Number
67117
Date Published
1979
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS FILM IS TO HELP LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS RECOGNIZE AND HANDLE RETARDED PERSONS ENCOUNTERED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
Abstract
POLICE UNDERSTANDING AND RECOGNITION OF HANDICAPPED PERSONS WOULD PREVENT MISTAKEN ARRESTS AND UNNECESSARY RESTRICTIONS ON RETARDED PERSONS' LIFESTYLES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THE FILM IS COMPOSED OF SIX SCENES DEPICTING TYPICAL POLICE OFFICER INTERACTION WITH HANDICAPPED INDIVIDUALS IN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. EACH SCENE CONCLUDES WITH THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTIONS AND A TIME ALLOTMENT FOR THE DISCUSSION INTERVAL. EXAMPLES OF QUESTIONS THAT POLICE OFFICERS MUST DECIDE AT THE SCENE ARE: (1) HAS A CRIME BEEN COMMITTED? (2) IS THE SUSPECT DANGEROUS? (3) WHAT IS THE OBLIGATION TO THE OTHER CITIZEN? THE FIRST SCENE SHOWS A RETARDED ADULT DISTURBING CHILDREN AND MOTHERS IN A PLAYGROUND. ANOTHER PRESENTS THE DILEMMA OF AN OLDER COUPLE WHO HAVE BEFRIENDED A RETARDED BOY ONLY TO FIND THAT HE IS BECOMING A NUISANCE THEY CAN NO LONGER HANDLE. NEXT, A RETARDED TEENAGE GIRL IS SHOWN ON A PUBLIC BUS, CRYING AND REFUSING TO COOPERATE WITH AN EXASPERATED DRIVER. ANOTHER RETARDED GIRL IS SHOWN BEING HARASSED AND RIDICULED BY RAUCOUS TEENAGERS. A SCENE INVOLVING A GROUP OF YOUNGSTERS PLAYING PRANKS ON MOTORIST FROM A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE SHOWS A RETARDED YOUNGSTER LEFT ALONE TO FACE THE PATROLMAN WHILE HIS BUDDIES HAVE ALL RUN AWAY. THE FINAL SCENE IS SET IN A DINER, WHERE A MENTALLY DISTURBED EMPLOYEE, PROVOKED BY HIS COWORKERS, LOSES HIS SELF-CONTROL, AND WIELDS A KNIFE AGAINST THEM. AN INSTRUCTION MANUAL IS PROVIDED. (MRK)