Unit 4 Lesson 3: Inmates With Intellectual Disabilities PDF

Unit 4 Mentally Ill Inmates and Inmates With Disabilities Lesson 3 Inmates With an Intellectual Disability Lesson Goal You will be able to communicate with an inmate who has an intellectual disability. Think About This People who have an intellectual disability become involved not only as vic...

Unit 4 Mentally Ill Inmates and Inmates With Disabilities Lesson 3 Inmates With an Intellectual Disability Lesson Goal You will be able to communicate with an inmate who has an intellectual disability. Think About This People who have an intellectual disability become involved not only as victims of crime but also as offenders. This happens more often than people who do not experience forms of disabilities. The Florida Department of Corrections estimates that about 3% to 9% of the inmate population has an intellectual disability. Inmates with an intellectual disability are more likely to have communication difficulties. Often there is a co-occurring disorder, such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, bipolar dis- order, or autism spectrum disorder. Knowing the characteristics of an intellectual disability should help you communicate better with these inmates. Characteristics Intellectual disability is a type of developmental disability, and it is a lifelong condition character- ized by slow intellectual development. An inmate with an intellectual disability will not benefit from taking psychiatric medication, as opposed to an inmate with a mental illness. ✅ CO743.1. Know the differences in the causes of mental illness and intellectual disability Mental illness is the result of biological diseases or chemical imbalance in which brain chemistry does not work normally and requires medication to correct the imbalance. By contrast, an intel- lectual disability may be the result of a childhood illness or injury that causes permanent and irre- versible brain damage. ✅ CO743.2. Know the characteristics of an inmate who has an intellectual disability Inmates with a severe level of intellectual disability have very slow motor development and commu- nication skills. The majority of inmates with an intellectual disability function at a mild disability level that may not be easily identifiable, and they may develop coping skills to cover up their disability in an attempt to appear non-disabled. Inmates with a mild intellectual disability might not understand long-term consequences or might not be able to make appropriate choices. They may have trouble describing events in chronological order and may not understand cause and effect. While they may understand that they have done something wrong, they may not grasp the significance of their actions. 222 / Florida Basic Recruit Training Program (CO): Volume 1 People with intellectual disabilities may not be able to distinguish between abstract and concrete thought and might confess to crimes they did not commit. They may recognize their own needs and wants but not easily identify the needs and wants of others, and they may have few relation- ships outside of family members and caregivers. They can be independent in familiar surround- ings but may be easily frustrated with unfamiliar surroundings and circumstances. Most of these inmates have difficulties with solving problems, have high anxiety levels, and are easily frustrated when faced with simple tasks. Inmates with an intellectual disability are more comfortable with routines and become agitated when routines vary. Often, they display self-soothing behaviors, such as rocking or clicking their fingers, and they may become upset when interrupted. An inmate may be easily intimidated and eager to please and may generally be in agreement with all author- ity figures. Intellectual disabilities are incurable; however, appropriate modifications and accom- modations may enhance an inmate’s capabilities. Communication Some inmates with an intellectual disability have difficulty communicating. Determine an inmate’s language skills and choose the level of language to use. Talking with an inmate with mild commu- nication difficulty is very different from talking with an inmate with moderate or severe commu- nication difficulties. ✅ CO743.3. Know how to communicate effectively with an inmate who has an intellectual disability When an inmate with an intellectual disability does have difficulty with communication, allow additional time to exchange information. Some inmates may be delayed in responding to ques- tions and their answers may seem to come out of nowhere. An inmate may give the impression that they comprehend; however, that may not be true, so be sure that an inmate understands. If you are in a busy area with many distractions, consider moving to a quieter location. Speak directly with an inmate, and avoid talking to them as if they were a child. Do not shout; instead, use plain language and short, simple sentences. Listen to what an inmate says and let them know when you do or do not understand. Should you find yourself in a situation where use of force or a non-lethal weapon is required to maintain inmate safety, officer safety, and the security of the facility, refer to the previous lesson on communicating with mentally ill inmates. During a violent incident involving an intellectually disabled inmate, avoid using batons, chemical agents, EIDs, specialty impact munitions, and other authorized non-lethal weapons. Your agency’s policy may involve having a qualified mental health professional provide crisis intervention and attempt to de- escalate the situation and prevent use of force. Chapter 7 Supervising Special Populations / 223