Legal Vulnerability – Police Officers’ Stories in Their Meeting with People with Intellectual Disabilities

Abstract

This study examines the legal vulnerability of people with intellectual disabilities exposed to domestic violence and sexual abuse, and has the research question: How is the legal vulnerability of people with intellectual disabilities represented in stories of abuse and violence told by the police? The study is based on interviews with 11 police officers who coordinate such cases. The term legal vulnerability and Goffman’s theoretical perspectives of the interaction order is used to provide an understanding of factors which may challenge the competence in safeguarding their legal rights. The analysis generated five themes. Our findings suggest that their lack of competence or experience in social interaction with others makes them vulnerable to exploitation. Legal vulnerability also occurs in the interaction with the police, due to a mismatch in police officers’ expectations of an investigative interview and their challenges to account for what they have been subjected to.

Keywords

• police
• legal vulnerability
• people with intellectual disabilities
• sexual abuse
• domestic violence