An Initial Development and Evaluation of a Culturally Responsive Police Interactions Training for Black Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Davenport, Mattina; Romero, Mónica E.; Lewis, Christopher; Lawson, Tamara F.; Ferguson, Bradley J.; Stichter, Janine P.; Kahng, Sung Woo

doi:10.1007/s10803-021-05181-8

Cited by 6 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…With our study, we demonstrated that encounters between the autistic community and the police are complex for both the autistic individual and the police officer, especially when police training specifically on ASD is still rare (Gardner et al, 2019) and trainings for the autistic community on police contact are still being developed (Davenport et al, 2021). We too agree with so many other researchers who have suggested that training for police officers (Gardner et al, 2019;Modell and Mak, 2008;Railey et al, 2020) is critical for successful interactions with the police.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…An expansive understanding of how autistic individuals react to police contact is vital to police training. As other scholars have noted, contact with the police may present challenges for both the autistic individual and police officers, especially if the autistic individual engages in behavior that is perceived by the officer as deceptive or non-compliant rather than as a behavior associated with autism (Cibralic et al, 2019;Cuve et al, 2018;Davenport et al, 2021;Gardner et al, 2019). Use of force in police encounters is more likely to occur when officers perceive the individuals as non-compliant or resisting (Terrill, 2003(Terrill, , 2005Terrill and Paoline, 2007).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The frequency and clustering of autism-related behaviors during encounters between the police and the autism community

Wallace

Herbert

Hassrick

et al. 2022

PIJPSM

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PurposeThis paper intends to examine the behaviors autistic individuals display during police encounters, determine if there are differences in those behaviors by age and gender, then examine if any behaviors cluster or frequently co-occur.Design/methodology/approachUsing data from the Survey of Parents and Caregivers of Individuals with autism spectrum disorder and focusing on a subsample of respondents who report that their autistic loved one has had prior police contact, the authors examine the frequency and clustering of behaviors displayed by autistic individuals during police encounters. The authors use chi-square tests of independence to examine age and gender differences and latent class analysis to assess behavioral clustering.FindingsThe findings show that many behaviors that autistic individuals display during police encounters are associated with social communication and interaction difficulties, such as failure to maintain eye contact and difficulty answering questions. Many of these overlap with police training on deception, compliance and passive resistance. Moreover, the authors find that there are age differences in two behaviors, fidgeting and not responding to one's name. Lastly, the authors find that many of these behaviors cluster in unexpected ways, adding a layer of complexity to encounters between the police and autistic individuals.Originality/valueTraining police officers, autistic individuals and their loved ones on interactions with the police is critical for positive outcomes. Without details on what occurs inside a police encounter, constructing those trainings is difficult. While this study provides only a small glimpse into police encounters with the autistic community, it is a first step toward understanding these multifaceted interactions better.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The frequency and clustering of autism-related behaviors during encounters between the police and the autism community

Wallace

Herbert

Hassrick

et al. 2022

PIJPSM

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“…, 2019; Cuve et al. , 2018; Davenport et al , 2021). Without training, officers may be in violation of the ADA Act, opening the department to the possibility for litigation (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…That said, training police on communication techniques with all persons and vulnerable populations remains critical: the failure of an autistic person to respond to an officer may be seen as passive resistance and increase the likelihood of use of force during the encounter (King and Dunn, 2010;Terrill, 2003), rather than a behavioral manifestation of autism. The need for formal officer training on autism is extreme given that interactions between officers and the autistic community are likely to be complex and bump up against an issue of noncompliance, resistance or use of force (Cibralic et al, 2019;Cuve et al, 2018;Davenport et al, 2021). Without training, officers may be in violation of the ADA Act, opening the department to the possibility for litigation (e.g.…”

Section: Police Training and Autism Spectrum Disordermentioning

confidence: 99%

The informal, nonorganizational ways police officers receive training on encounters with autistic individuals

Herbert

Pelletier

Wallace

2022

PIJPSM

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Purpose Given that formal training on autism is still a relatively infrequent occurrence for police officers, the objective of this study is to expose and describe the formal and informal, nonorganizationally based means police officers receive on-the-job training regarding interactions with autistic individuals.Design/methodology/approach Using personal networks and snowball sampling, the authors interviewed 19 police officers from multiple US police departments who reported having known contact with an autistic individual while on duty. Interviews were transcribed and coded to identify themes describing formal training and informal means to learn about autistic persons during interactions.Findings The authors find that many officers received formal training on mental health, though few received specific training about autism. Most commonly, officers with a personal connection to autism (e.g. a child or loved one), passed down information and techniques to other officers on how to have positive encounters with autistic individuals. Officers also passed along field knowledge of known autistic individuals in patrol areas/beats to help others have positive interactions. Lastly, community members often assisted officers by sharing information about find where an individual may be located, may live or known personal characteristics/preferences.Originality/value Scholars examining police contact with autistic individuals infrequently detail the point of view and needs of officers in successfully interacting with this population. This work adds to this growing discussion by exposing how officers use personal experience, informal training and community members’ assistance as a stopgap for their general lack of training on how to interact with autistic individuals successfully and positively.

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Resilience and strengths in the Black autism community in the United States: A scoping review

Davis,

Telfer,

Artis

et al. 2024

Autism Research

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Gaps in research knowledge pertaining to resiliency factors and strengths among the Black autism community, inclusive of autistic persons and their support system exist. A scoping review was conducted to further explore quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods studies that investigate resiliency factors and related strengths in the Black autism community in the United States. A total of 436 articles were identified, with 28 studies included in the final review. Results demonstrated that (1) strengths of Black autistic persons across the life course have been disregarded in research; (2) Black caregiver advocacy, while common, is also a developmental process that can be supported by community‐based interventions; (3) informal supports including family and friends play an instrumental role in supporting the well‐under investigated being of Black parents of autistic children; and (4) spirituality is often endorsed by Black caregivers of autistic children, such as playing a role in acceptance of the autism diagnosis and with coping with difficult life situations. Research and practice implications are discussed.

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An Initial Development and Evaluation of a Culturally Responsive Police Interactions Training for Black Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Cited by 6 publications

References 61 publications

The frequency and clustering of autism-related behaviors during encounters between the police and the autism community

The frequency and clustering of autism-related behaviors during encounters between the police and the autism community

The informal, nonorganizational ways police officers receive training on encounters with autistic individuals

Resilience and strengths in the Black autism community in the United States: A scoping review

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