Justice-Involved Youth With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Call to Action for the Juvenile Justice Community

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The Arc’s National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability® (NCCJD) notes the decline in juvenile crime and incarceration and accompanying rise in incarceration rates for youth with IDD. NCCJD’s white paper and webinar on justice involved youth with IDD highlights emerging issues and promising practices from across the country including:

  • Preventing involvement in the first place—strategies for parents and advocates
  • Exclusionary discipline in schools
  • The school-to-prison pipeline
  • Restraint and seclusion in schools
  • Special education in juvenile hall
  • The Arc of the Capital Area’s Juvenile Justice Services Program

The webinar features brief presentations from multiple white paper authors. Join us for this thought-provoking webinar and gain new insight on how to assist youth with IDD who are at-risk for or already involved in the juvenile justice system.

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Sex Offenders with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: A Call to Action for the Criminal Justice Community

/in , , , , , /by The Arc

This webinar examines the complicated issue of those with IDD being charged and convicted of sexual crimes and offers important guidance to criminal justice professionals.
Through NCCJD’s national information and referral process, we continue to see cases of sex offenses by people with IDD that are well outside the stereotypical instances portrayed by the media. NCCJD’s white paper and webinar on the topic will highlight current issues in the field, as well as promising practices from across the country including:

  • Writing a community safety plan
  • Research from Ohio focusing on the characteristics and offense patterns of 160 individuals with DD
  • Ohio’s response to addressing the service needs of individuals with IDD who have been convicted of committing a sexual offense
  • Specialized employment services for people with disabilities and sex offending behavior
  • Evaluations and risk assessments of people with IDD
  • An overview of the negative impact of Megan’s law consequences on the IDD population
  • Right to representation and how to provide effective representation to this population

Webinar participants will be the first to obtain NCCJD’s white paper on the topic of sex offenders with IDD which delves even deeper into the issues addressed on the webinar. Join us for this thought-provoking and empowering webinar.

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Violence in the Lives of People With Disabilities: Emerging Issues and Solutions for 2015 and Beyond

/in , , , , , , /by The Arc

In 2014, the National Crime Victim Survey revealed that people with disabilities face a much greater risk of being victimized compared to those without disabilities (the rate of violent victimization for people with disabilities is nearly three times the rate compared to those without disabilities). This webinar addresses emerging issues in the field with a panel of experts and advocates covering topics like:

  • Using trauma-informed care principles when working with victims with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD)
  • Assisting crime victims with complex communication needs
  • Supporting victims with specific types of disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs)
  • Responding to bullying of students with disabilities
  • Supporting people with disabilities in speaking out against violence.

Join us for this thought-provoking and empowering webinar, and find out how you can reduce violence in the lives of people with disabilities.

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People With Disabilities in the Criminal Justice System: Promising Legislation for Statewide Reforms

/in , , , , , , /by The Arc

Join NCCJD as we delve into the stories that created statewide movements to pass legislation impacting people with disabilities in the criminal justice system as either suspects or victims of crime. Over the past two years, NCCJD has been compiling a database of such legislation in order to help criminal justice and disability professionals understand this issue from a national viewpoint and get an idea of what type of legislation is being passed and why. Find out how groups in Colorado and Maryland were able to pass such legislation and get tips on how to replicate their success in your community. Also, find out more about our new Criminal Justice and Disability Legislative Database!

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Suspects/Offenders’ Issues Series: Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Programs: Lessons Learned on Working with Police

/in , , , , , , /by The Arc

For more than 25 years, crisis intervention teams (CIT) have helped local communities come together to improve interactions between police and people living with psychiatric disabilities. The goal of these programs is safer encounters between police and individuals in crisis, give police tools to respond to crisis situations and link people to mental health services. CIT programs also ensure better coordination between law enforcement agencies, mental health providers and other service providers, and individuals and families. While CIT may not be a perfect fit to meet the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, it does provide lessons for the IDD community on how to partner with law enforcement. Ms. Usher will share lessons on how to partner with police and build a sustainable change in local communities to address the needs of people with disabilities.

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Day and Employment Opportunities for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Forensic/Sexual Behaviors

/in , , , /by The Arc

For the last 25 years the SES program at CLASS has supported individuals in a community-based, therapeutic work setting. Currently the program supports 58 individuals, both male and female, contracted through the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Disabilities, Department of Mental Health, and Rehabilitation Commission. Individuals who are forensically involved, SORB (Sex Offender Registry Board) identified, and/or exhibit dangerous behaviors present unique challenges regarding day and employment services. CLASS is a proud chapter of the Arc, The Arc of Greater Lawrence.

CLASS’s SES program employs a person-centered, data-based treatment model to provide effective vocational training and employment opportunities for adults with developmental, cognitive, mental health, and/or SORB-related, high-risk issues. The SES program structure relies on a staffing ratio of 1 to 4 and emphasizes the therapeutic value of employment for individuals with complex life experiences, psychiatric diagnoses and behavioral challenges. The SES treatment approach incorporates a multi-tiered model of universal expectations for all individuals in the program, which includes targeted group contingencies for identified issues and individualized treatment interventions designed to address significantly challenging issues. This webinar discusses an SES program overview as well as the obstacles and opportunities in providing this treatment modality.

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 Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): A Hidden Disability

/in , , , , , /by The Arc

Criminal suspects and offenders often have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs), a disability which is frequently undiagnosed and yet is often the key to understanding the individual and dealing with him or her. The American Bar Association and American Academy of Pediatrics, among others, have recently passed resolutions indicating the seriousness of this condition and the importance of recognition and treatment. Research indicates that 60% of individuals with this disorder will be arrested at some point in their lives and 50% will be incarcerated or placed in a locked mental health facility. A Canadian study of youth in juvenile facilities found 40 times the expected rate of individuals with FASD. This session will explore the reasons for these numbers as well as some strategies for appropriate intervention both before and after arrest. Dawnmarie Bisgard will describe some of the reasons for the response of individuals living with FASDs to law enforcement officers from the perspective of the affected individual. Ms. Bisgard will discuss strategies which were able to change an expected recidivism rate of 50% to 15% for youth with FASDs who were on Probation in the 17th Judicial District of Colorado during a study funded by the FASD Center for Excellence.

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Alternatives to Incarceration for Criminal Offenders with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

/in , , , , , , /by The Arc

Criminal offenders with developmental and intellectual disabilities (IDD) present unique challenges to the criminal justice system seeking to investigate and prosecute crime as well as to the social service system seeking to serve and assist this population. Such individuals make up at least 9 – 10% of the prison population and some studies tell us that they may comprise as much as 50% of adult and juvenile offender populations. It is unquestioned that individuals with IDD face distinct disadvantages in the system, resulting in convictions for more serious offenses and more prison time. The Criminal Justice Advocacy Program (CJAP) of The Arc of NJ seeks to overcome these disadvantages, while still ensuring that offenders take responsibility for criminal behavior, by arranging specific interventions that provide alternatives to incarceration through offender-specific Personalized Justice Plans. The CJAP also acts as a clearinghouse of information between the criminal justice and social service system in providing training and communication between the two systems. This webinar will review the obstacles and disadvantages faced by this population and provide an overview of the CJAP.

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Suspects/Offenders Issue Series: Disability Awareness Training: A Train the Trainer Program for First Responders

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This webinar explores the main elements of training law enforcement, best ways to deliver training, challenges every police department encounters, and how Disability Awareness Training should be incorporated.

Everyone needs disability awareness training; this is not unique to first responders. However, a presence at situations that call for a response to challenging behaviors, alleged criminal conduct, physical and medical needs, assistance in a matter, or service and protection are imperative to the well-being and quality of life for the individual(s) first responders come in contact with. Individuals with disabilities may require response that would vary from everyday encounters. If you are not educated on this topic, results can be catastrophic.

Mr. Whalen, Chief Askey, and Captain Mann will introduce the main elements in training law enforcement, best ways to deliver training, challenges every police department has, and how Disability Awareness Training should be incorporated. They will also discuss the role of law enforcement and how it may call for a different approach when interacting with an individual with a disability and how training plays a key role in ensuring a proper response.

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Abuse of People with Disabilities: A Silent Epidemic

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This webinar explains what abuse is, the different forms abuse can take, and tells victims how they can report abuse.

Join us for a webinar featuring a self-advocacy PSA, “Abuse of People with Disabilities: A Silent Epidemic,” by powerful self-advocates Kecia Weller and Molly Kennedy. Molly will join us as a presenter to explain what abuse is and the different forms abuse can take, and tell victims how to report abuse. She will explain the word “intimidation”, and help victims understand that abuse is always unacceptable.

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