Webinar Library - Criminal Justice

The Accessibility and Disability Policy Webinars are free, real-time captioned sessions held on a monthly basis that cover a variety of topics regarding people with disabilities in ten issue areas. Topics of interest can benefit employers, governmental entities, service providers and individuals with disabilities.

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Law Enforcement Interaction Programs

Presented on March 28, 2024

Houston’s premier law enforcement agency has a Community Service Division has implemented an innovative program called the Positive Interaction Program (PIP). Citizens who attend these PIP events hear presentations on major law enforcement topics, meet their local officers, and get access to crucial information about crime in their city and neighborhoods. Within this program, there are 30 different PIP groups including one for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

Officer Sobota will share more information about his work with the Positive Interaction Program, the impact of police interaction events on different communities including people with disabilities, and how you can work with your local police department to develop a similar program.

Presenter:

James Sobota, Senior Police Officer, Houston Police Department.

Law Enforcement Interaction Programs Transcript

Criminal Justice and Working with the IDD Population

Presented on February 27, 2020
The criminal justice system can be difficult to navigate, particularly when you have to do it on your own. For people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD), interfacing with the system can be even more challenging, especially if their disability goes unidentified. Criminal justice professionals may not have the necessary training to properly identify and treat people with I/DD, which can lead to difficulties for everyone involved. In this hour-long webinar, attendees will receive a brief overview of the unique challenges faced by people with I/DD in the criminal justice system, what first responders and other professionals can do to ameliorate these challenges, and examples of how best to identify, communicate with, and support people with I/DD to ensure they receive equal access to justice. We will also discuss Pathways to Justice and Access Justice, trainings designed to support criminal justice professionals in interfacing with people with I/DD, and how to bring these trainings to your community.