Police contact with people with an intellectual disability: the independent third person perspective.
Police usually remember to call an ITP, yet both officers and volunteers still need bite-size training on plain language and emotional support.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Researchers asked Independent Third Person (ITP) volunteers about police interviews with people who have intellectual disability (ID).
The volunteers sit in on police interviews to give emotional support and check the person understands the questions.
Seventy-two volunteers filled out a survey about how well police spot ID, call them in, and communicate.
What they found
Most volunteers said police usually notice when someone has ID and ask for an ITP.
Still, half the volunteers wanted police to get better at plain-language questions and calming anxious clients.
Volunteers also said they need their own training on how to comfort people during tough interviews.
How this fits with other research
Geckeler et al. (2000) and Burack et al. (2004) asked GPs the same kind of survey questions. Like the ITP volunteers, the doctors felt under-prepared and wanted extra training.
Catania et al. (2015) looked at the other side of the table: how people with ID actually answer police questions. They found many still agree with leading questions even when an ITP is present.
Together the papers show a gap: police can usually book an ITP, but once the interview starts, communication breaks down unless extra safeguards are built in.
Why it matters
If you write behavior plans or consult on forensic interviews, push for two things. First, add a brief police checklist: slow pace, one idea per question, and a 5-second wait time. Second, give ITP volunteers a 10-minute calming script—deep breaths, simple labels, a break card. These small steps can cut false confessions and keep clients safer.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: A number of jurisdictions have instituted legislation requiring an independent person to be present during police interviews with vulnerable people. In Victoria, Australia, a group of volunteers known as independent third persons help to fulfil this role with people who present with cognitive impairment arising from their mental illness or disability. This study sought to explore the perspectives of the Independent Third Person volunteers on police identification of and responses to people with intellectual disability (ID). METHODS: All registered Independent Third Person volunteers across the State of Victoria in Australia were identified and sent a postal survey on their experiences and confidence in performing their role, their perceptions of police competency, and the challenges they faced working at this interface. RESULTS: Of the 207 Independent Third Persons identified, 94 (45%) completed and returned the survey. Participants reported that despite being overly reliant on previous police contacts and cues relating to communication difficulties, they viewed police as generally competent in their ability to identify people with ID. They also considered themselves confident in performing their own roles at this interface, albeit more so at the perfunctory aspects of the role and less so with the emotional aspects of supporting the person being interviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Police are seen as competent at identifying those with cognitive deficits and seeking appropriate supports for the person with ID in the interview context. More specialised training for police members is recommended in communicating with people with IDs. Volunteers working at this interface require additional support and training in helping to meet the emotional needs of those being interviewed.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2013 · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2788.2012.01571.x