Abstract Research Summary Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) face an elevated risk of victimization relative to their peers. Victims with IDD may view police departmental websites or policies to identify available accommodations in deciding to report their experience. The current study employs a convergent mixed‐methods approach to examine the websites of policing organizations across four states to determine the prevalence and nature of disability‐related policies ( n = 1678), as well as insights from interviews and focus groups with law enforcement professionals ( n = 27). Findings suggested that policies were rare and often did not directly apply to victims with IDD. Coercive processes underlie the formulation of many disability‐related policies. Moreover, professionals often reported agencies not having policies, despite normative processes supporting the need for policies. Although these findings are important, it remains less clear whether agencies’ websites provide accessible information for crime victims with IDD where language access involves more than just translation. Website content, such as clear descriptions of accommodations, may influence victims with IDD decisions to report. However, gaps in implementation and law enforcement's awareness of these policies can significantly hinder the reporting process for victims with disabilities. Policy Implications Findings highlighted the need for greater transparency with respect to police policies. Agencies need to reconsider the utility of existing policies for victims with IDD, if they exist, in terms of accessing support and overcoming communication and access barriers to seeking help. Policies should also be written in plain language and accessible to all victims regardless of disability status.
Maher et al. (Wed,) studied this question.