This paper presents a systematic research review regarding disability sensitivity training programmes provided to police officers. Thirteen databases between 1980 and 2015 were searched. After records were screened, 19 full-text studies were assessed. Three studies met the eligibility criteria. Quality appraisal was undertaken using the McMaster tool. Data were synthesised qualitatively using narrative summaries. Limited evidence for the effectiveness of training programmes in improving knowledge and skills of police officers towards people with disabilities exists. This review highlights the need for custom-designed training with a demonstrated evidence base. Further research should be conducted to develop, implement and evaluate such programmes.
AntonakRFFielderCRMulickJA (1993) A scale of attitudes toward the application of eugenics to the treatment of people with mental retardation. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research37: 75–83.
3.
BaileyABarrOBuntingB (2001) Police attitudes toward people with intellectual disability: An evaluation of awareness training. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research45(4), 344–350.
4.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015) CDC 24/7: Saving Lives, Protecting People™. Available at: www.cdc.gov/ (accessed 3 May 2016).
5.
ColemanTGCottonD (2010) Police Interactions with People with a Mental Illness: Police Learning in the Environment of Contemporary Policing. Prepared for the Mental Health and the Law Advisory Committee Mental Health Commission of Canada, Canada.
6.
CrispRJTurnerRN (2009) Can imagined interactions produce positive perceptions?American Psychologist64(4), 231–240.
7.
DaruwallaPDarcyS (2005) Personal and societal attitudes to disability. Annals of Tourism Research32(3), 549–570. DOI:10.1016/j.annals.2004.10.008.
8.
EngelmanAIveySLTsengWDahrougeDBruneJNeuhauserL (2013) Responding to the deaf in disasters: Establishing the need for systematic training for state-level emergency management agencies and community organizations. BMC Health Services Research13(84).
9.
HatfieldRE (2014) Training law enforcement in mental health: A broad-based model. Thesis, Dissertations and Capstones, Paper 485. Available at: http://mds.marshall.edu/etd. (accessed 20 April 2016).
10.
HausnerEGuddatCHermannsTLampertUWaffenschmidtS (2015) Development of search strategies for systematic reviews: validation showed non inferiority of the objective approach. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology68: 191–199.
11.
HughesBRCurryMOschwaldMChildBLundEMSullivanMJPowersLR (2011) Responding to crime victims with disabilities: The perspective of law enforcement. Journal of Policy Practice10(3), 185–205.
12.
HughesKBellisMAJonesLWoodSBatesGEcjleyLMcCoyEMiktonCShakespeareTOfficerA (2012) Prevalence and risk of violence against adults with disabilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. The Lancet379(9826): 1621–1629.
13.
IsonNMcIntyreSRotherySSmithers-SheedyHGoldsmithSParsonageSFoyL (2010) ‘Just like you’: A disability awareness programme for children that enhanced knowledge, attitudes and acceptance: Pilot study findings. Developmental Neurorehabilitation13(5): 360–368.
14.
JonesLBellisMA.WoodSHughesKMcCoyEEckleyLBatesGMiktonCShakespeareTOfficerA (2012) Prevalence and risk of violence against children with disabilities: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. The Lancet380(9845): 899–907.
15.
LamWYGunukulaSKMcGuiganDSymonsABAklEA (2010) Validated instruments used to measure attitudes of healthcare students and professionals towards patients with physical disability: A systematic review. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation7(1), 1–7.
16.
McAllisterABaileyABarrO (2002) Training in joint investigation of alleged crimes against people with learning disabilities in Northern Ireland. Journal of Adult Protection4(2): 21–27.
17.
McCambridgeJWittonJElbourneDR. (2014) Systematic review of the Hawthorne effect: new concepts are needed to study research participation effects. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology67(3): 267–277.
18.
MitraSSambamoorthiU (2014) Disability prevalence among adults: estimates for 54 countries and progress toward a global estimate. Disability and Rehabilitation36(11): 940–947.
19.
ModellSJCroppD (2007) Police officers and disability: Perceptions and attitudes. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities45(1): 60–63.
20.
ModellSJMakS (2008) A preliminary assessment of police officers’ knowledge and perceptions of people with disabilities. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities46(3): 183–189.
21.
MoherDLiberatiATetzlaffJAltmanDG and the PRISMA Group (2009) Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The Prisma Statement. Annals of Internal Medicine141(4): 264–269.
22.
MorganPELoK (2013) Enhancing positive attitudes towards disability: Evaluation of an integrated physiotherapy program. Disability and Rehabilitation35(4), 300–305.
23.
MurrayCJVosTLozanoRNaghaviMFlaxmanADMichaudCEzzatiMShibuyaKSalomonJAAbdallaSAboyansV (2012) Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 291 diseases and injuries in 21 regions, 1990–2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010. The Lancet380(9859): 2197–2223.
24.
MurrayCJLLopezAD (1997) Alternative projections of mortality and disability by cause 1990–2020: Global Burden of Disease Study. The Lancet349(9064), 1498–1504. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(96)07492-2 (accessed 10 May 2016).
25.
National Council for Support of Disability Issues (2009) A National Policy: A Progress Report – March 2009. Available at: www.ncd.gov/progress_reports/Mar312009 (accessed 20 April 2016).
26.
NabatchiT (2012) Putting the ‘public’ back in public values research: Designing participation to identify and respond to values. Public Administration Review72(5): 699–708.
27.
OnwuegbuzieAJLeechNL (2005) On becoming a pragmatic researcher: The importance of combining quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. International Journal of Social Research Methodology8(5): 375–387.
28.
PaladYYBarquiaRBDomingoHCFloresCKPadillaLIRamelJMD (2016) Scoping review of instruments measuring attitudes toward disability. Disability and Health Journal9(3): 354–374.
29.
PrimorSLernerN (2012) The right of people with intellectual, psychosocial and communication disabilities to access to justice accommodations in the criminal process. Available at: www.bizchut.org.ll (accessed 25 October 2014).
30.
SampsonMMcGowanJCogoEGrimshawJMoherDLefebvreC (2009) An evidence-based practice guideline for the peer review of electronic search strategies. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology62(9): 944–952.
31.
SciorK (2011) Public awareness, attitudes and beliefs regarding intellectual disability: A systematic review. Research in Developmental Disabilities32(6): 2164–2182.
32.
SeewooruttunLSciorK (2014) Interventions aimed at increasing knowledge and improving attitudes towards people with intellectual disabilities among lay people. Research in Developmental Disabilities35(12): 3482–3495.
33.
ShieldsNTaylorNF (2014) Contact with young adults with disability led to a positive change in attitudes toward disability among physiotherapy students. Physiotherapy Canada66(3), 298–305.
34.
TurnerRNCrispRJ (2010) Imagining intergroup contact reduces implicit prejudice. British Journal of Social Psychology49(1): 129–142.
35.
VermetteHSPinalsDAAppelbaumPS (2005) Mental health training for law enforcement professionals. Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law33: 42–46.
36.
Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission (2014) Beyond Doubt: The Experience of People with Disabilities Reporting Crime – Research Findings. Carlton, Victoria. Available at: www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au (accessed 10 September 2014).
37.
VilchinskyNFindlerLWernerS (2010) Attitudes toward people with disabilities: The perspective of attachment theory. Rehabilitation Psychology55(3): 298–306.
38.
WernerSCorriganPDitchmanNSokolK (2012) Stigma and intellectual disability: A review of related measures and future directions. Research in Developmental Disabilities33(2): 748–765.
39.
World Health Organization (2011) World Report on Disability. Geneva: World Health Organization and the World Bank. Available from: www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/2011/en/ (accessed 29 March 2016).
