Reducing Risks and Building Trust: Effective Interview and Interrogation of People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
The IACP convenes multidisciplinary experts to develop resources on effective interview and interrogations between police and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Police officers may experience various challenges when responding to situations involving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). In partnership with The Arc of the United States’ National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability (The Arc), leading legal experts, and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), the IACP is developing innovative resources to enhance strategies for police interviews and interrogations of individuals with IDD who are witnesses to or suspects of crime.
Project Activities
National Consortium on Effective Police Interactions with People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (National IDD Consortium)
The IACP is convening a United States group of police and prosecutorial leaders, nationally recognized experts from criminal justice, academic, and nonprofit organizations, and individuals with lived experience to explore promising practices, current research, case law and the legal landscape, existing training and resources, and specific challenges related to recognition, communication, understanding of Miranda rights, vulnerability to suggestion and influence, and risks of false confession when working with this population. This National Consortium engages a wide span of impacted stakeholders and will translate their input into recommendations for innovative policies and practices around police interview and interrogation of individuals with IDD.
Police Leader Roundtable
The IACP hosted a roundtable at the 2025 IACP Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado, to gather feedback and seek guidance from police leaders representing diverse agencies around the U.S. Participants shared their experience in community policing, training, legal issues, civil rights, trauma-informed policing, criminal investigations, interview and interrogation, and interacting with individuals with IDD. Discussions focused on exploring the state of the field in police interview and interrogation of people with IDD, police training and policy needs, engagement strategies to form effective community partnerships with the disability community, prosecution, and criminal defense agencies in local U.S. jurisdictions, and dissemination strategies for upcoming resources.
State of the Field and Roadmap Report
In 2026, the IACP will develop a report on the current state of practice, promising practices, and recommendations for interviewing or interrogating people with IDD. Content will compile findings from IACP’s National IDD Consortium convenings, police leader roundtable, and insights from multidisciplinary subject matter experts. The report will provide recommended strategies for effectively interviewing and interrogating individuals with IDD, training and policy guidance, and community partner engagement strategies that will enhance police practices at the local level.
Key Takeaways for Police Professionals
The IACP will condense the recommendations and strategies from the State of the Field and Roadmap Report down to key takeaways for police professionals. The IACP will highlight the issue and topline messages and outline the most essential recommended practices for police interviews and interrogations with individuals with IDD. This high-level resource will provide actionable recommendations to help agencies and officers operationalize promising practices from across the U.S.
Promotion to the Field
The IACP, partners, and the National Consortium members will share project resources and recommendations with the field. A robust marketing and dissemination strategy will be deployed through IACP's website, social media, conferences, podcasts, and webinars.
Related Content and Resources
Crisis Response and Intervention Training (CRIT) Curriculum and Toolkit A 40-hour training program designed to prepare police officers in their response to people experiencing crises related to behavioral health conditions and intellectual and developmental disabilities. This curriculum and toolkit are free for agencies to use. | This project assists police agencies with implementing technologies to track missing individuals and with developing or operating programs to prevent wandering, increase safety, and facilitate rescue of those with dementia or developmental disabilities. |
Interactions with Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Policy This policy provides police officers with guidelines for appropriately accommodating, interacting, and communicating with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. | Juvenile Interview and Interrogation The IACP has a series of training, tools, and resources for police on effective juvenile interview and interrogation.
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Law Enforcement Engagement with People with Behavioral Health Issues and Developmental Disabilities A report from a multi-disciplinary roundtable with subject matter experts in police responses to incidents involving individuals with behavioral health (BH) issues and/or developmental disabilities (DD).
| Law Enforcement Resources on Autism Spectrum Disorder These three resources provide police with guidance on preparing for and responding to incidents involving missing children with autism.
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This resource provides insights into the developmental disability community, offers suggestions for successful interactions, and outlines options for safe and effective deflection and pre-arrest diversion when people with developmental disabilities encounter police and may be experiencing a crisis or are otherwise in need of services.
| Policing and People with Developmental Disabilities: Emerging Issues in the Field This webinar provides perspectives of police officers and a person with a developmental disability, including emerging issues and practical tips officers can use to respond effectively to people with developmental disabilities.
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Resources on Developmental Disabilities These two resources discuss the importance of understanding developmental disabilities and highlight the common encounters officers may have with individuals with developmental disabilities in the field. | What Law Enforcement Need to Know About Developmental Disabilities: Tips from an Officer and His Son This webinar offers information on the general signs of a developmental disability; explains tips and strategies for successful interactions with individuals with developmental disabilities; and describes wandering and its impact on families, police, and the community. |
External Resources
This content is designed for reference purposes only. The IACP does not necessarily endorse, certify, recommend, or promote any particular resource(s) within.
Contact Information
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