Sometimes events in the news stun us more intensely due to simple personal identification. So it was with me several years ago when a man in California was assaulted by police officers while waiting for his. Mistaking an object protruding from his pocket as a weapon, they ordered him to empty his pockets. Unable to see that they were police the man, who happened to be blind, refused. The offending object was his folding white cane.

Of course, people with disabilities can be criminals. And they can be victims of crime. One in every five Americans has some sort of physical or mental disability. The likelihood, then, of law enforcement officers responding to calls in which a victim has a disability is good. The lack of preparation or understanding by police officers in already traumatic circumstances can traumatize a victim even further.

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Crime Victims has published a new resource that every law enforcement officer should read. First Response to Victims of Crime Who Have a Disability offers concise guidance on how to approach victims who might have a disability.

Setting the tone by advising against pity based in the disability itself or, the other extreme, use of pejorative language like retard or deaf mute, the guide provides simple explanations of specific disabilities and advises how to interact comfortably with victims.

Speaking in non-condescending, simple sentences is emphasized, as is offering or asking for one bit of information at a time. It is better to ask, "What color hair did the thief have?" for instance, than "Can you give a detailed description?"

When approaching blind or visually impaired victims, officers are reminded to provide their name and badge number and to be specific about references to surroundings.

It is important to allow a deaf or hearing impaired person who might need to read lips to see your face, unobstructed, and to offer alternate means of communication. Gestures can increase a victim's comfort, as can speaking calmly and normally.

In addition to basic facts about each disability and advice for interaction, resources are included for further study.

Police officers taking a few minutes now to familiarize themselves with information about disabilities and interacting with victims who have them just makes sense.

Law enforcement officers are only human, and without appropriate information, they can make wrong assumptions that lead to crime victims being victimized twice: first by the perpetrator, then by the police.

Mistakes can always happen, but factual information is the best way to avoid them. Reading this simple guide is an excellent starting place for anyone in law enforcement.

First Response to Victims of Crime Who Have a Disability can be downloaded as an HTML file from www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/firstrep/2002/welcome.html or in PDF format from www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/infores/firstrep/2002/NCJ195500.pdf.

Contact Deborah Kendrick by phone: 673-4474; fax: 321-6430; e-mail:dkkendrick@earthlink.net.