About the project
People with intellectual disabilities (ID) may experience problems understanding and being understood when they are in contact with the police and criminal justice system. Suspects with ID are “vulnerable” in the sense that, compared to non-disabled suspects, they are less likely to understand information about the caution and legal rights, and more likely to make decisions that would not protect their rights. Communication difficulties can increase the risk of giving incorrect information and falsely confessing to criminal offences. A danger that they will be charged and convicted on the wrong basis, is therefore present. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requires access to the legal system. We know little about how suspects experience the encounter with the police. We also know little about how police officers act when dealing with people with ID, and whether they pick up on the suspect's need for facilitation.
Method
Through interviews with people who are suspects, interviews with both individual and focus group interviews of police officers, this research project will provide increased knowledge on these questions.
Objectives
The project will contribute to knowledge about how human rights for suspects with ID are fulfilled in practice, what challenges must be solved, how the need for facilitation can be detected, and how the need for facilitation can be accounted for in criminal cases.
Project period
The project runs from 2023 to 2026.
Financing
The project is financed by The Research Council of Norway and Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs.