Offenders with Physical Disabilities

Abstract

The Americans with Disabilities Act defines disability as physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of individual; a record of an impairment; or being regarded as having an impairment. Offenders with ambulatory disabilities can encounter difficulties in their police interactions. Research indicates that their experiences in the criminal justice system and interactions with criminal justice actors are fraught with issues. Offenders with a physical disability may be unable to fully communicate with criminal justice personnel or comprehend critical junctures in the criminal justice system. Interaction with police is a critical point in the criminal justice process, as it can have major implications for suspects and their cases. In courthouses and courtrooms, accommodations may need to be made for defendants with physical disabilities. The prison infirmary is responsible for treating the injuries that offenders with physical disabilities sustain.