Investigative interviewing of youth with ADHD – recommendations for detective training

Abstract

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in youth can lead to a trajectory of early and repeated contact with the criminal justice system (CJS), where such youth face significant challenges due to the nature of their diagnosis and the lack of specialized detective training in this area. This article reviews Australian detectives’ perceptions regarding contact with ADHD-affected youth, ongoing contact of such youth with the CJS, and the impact of ADHD on interviewing time efficiency and quality of information gathered. It explores detectives’ perceived impact of ADHD on components of the Cognitive Interview (CI). It overviews detectives’ perceptions regarding their own skill/ability, training availability and future training preferences regarding the interviewing of ADHD-affected youth. The authors highlight best practice in specialized detective training, as well as in working with ADHD-affected youth. Recommendations are made regarding the design features of a potential specialized training programme for detectives interviewing ADHD-affected youth.

Key words:

• ADHD
• attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
• cognitive interview
• Child Protection Investigation Unit
• detective
• forensic
• police
• recommendations
• training
• youth

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the assistance provided by the Queensland Police Service. The views expressed in this material are those of the authors and are not those of the Queensland Police Service. Responsibility for any errors of omission or commission remains with the authors. The Queensland Police Service expressly disclaims any liability for any damage resulting from the use of the material contained in this publication and will not be responsible for any loss, howsoever arising, from use of or reliance on this material.

Ethical standards

Declaration of conflicts of interest

Kimberley J. Cunial has declared no conflicts of interest.

Leanne M. Casey has declared no conflicts of interest.

Clare Bell has declared no conflicts of interest.

Mark R. Kebbell has declared no conflicts of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study

Additional information

Funding

This project did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. Kimberley J. Cunial currently receives financial support via an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship.