Police perceptions of training in interviewing youth with ADHD

ABSTRACT

One hundred and two Child Protection Investigation Unit (CPIU) detectives were recruited to answer questions about their perceived knowledge and skill, as well as training accessibility and development needs, regarding the interviewing of youth with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Results indicate that CPIU detectives rated themselves as having a moderate ability to recognize ADHD in interviewees and only a moderate awareness of how ADHD may impact the interviewing process but reported an average confidence in their ability to conduct a modified cognitive interview with ADHD-affected youth. CPIU detectives reported a below-average satisfaction with prior training provided to equip them in this area as well as below average confidence in their ability to access any possible existing training in this area. Detectives also report a moderately high desire for a new training program focused on interviewing youth with ADHD, with a preference for training that involves online learning, followed closely by workshops and role plays. Implications are discussed in terms of the need for future research which focusses on the development of a specialised training program for CPIU detectives interviewing youth with ADHD.

KEYWORDS:

• ADHD
• cognitive interview
• police
• youth
• training

Acknowledgments

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.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

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

Notes on contributors

Kimberley J. Cunial

Kimberley J. Cunial Kimberley Cunial is an Educational and Developmental Psychologist as well as a Clinical Psychology Registrar, currently in the final stages of completing her PhD in Clinical Psychology. She has a background in teaching, within schools and as a university lecturer, as well as in diverse roles as a Psychologist across community, school, university, hospital, and private practice settings. Kimberley has published papers on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), co-authored a developmental psychology textbook and offered expert advice within the media on topics relevant to children, adolescents and their families. She is very passionate about her research interests in ADHD.

Leanne M. Casey

Dr Leanne M. Casey is a Senior Lecturer in the Clinical Psychology Program at Griffith University in Brisbane. She has had over 30 years of experience as a clinical psychologist, working in hospital, community, and private-practice settings. Her research interests focus on understanding the barriers that prevent effective help seeking and on the use of technology in disseminating psychological interventions.

Clare Bell

Clare Bell is a Clinical Psychologist and the Director of the Psychology and Life Promotion Clinics at Griffith University. She is also a senior lecturer within the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith. Clare is passionate about the training of postgraduate clinical psychology students and has made a significant contribution to the clinical psychology program at Griffith University since becoming the Clinic Director in 2012. She has a small private practice, specialising in childhood disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Clare has published in the area of childhood anxiety and has an ongoing interest in clinical outcomes for children and adolescents.

Mark R. Kebbell

Mark R. Kebbell is Professor of Forensic Psychology at the Griffith University School of Applied Psychology. His expertise and research is in the area of Investigative Psychology particularly with regards the investigation and prosecution of serious crime. His previous work has included writing the guidelines for police officers in England and Wales (with Wagstaff) for assessing witness evidence, and developing risk assessment methods for suspected sex offenders for the Australian Federal Police and the Queensland Police Service. He has worked on more than seventy criminal cases, principally involving murder or serious sexual assault, and has given expert evidence on numerous occasions including uncontested psychological evidence in an Old Bailey appeal case. He is a Registered Psychologist in Australia and a Chartered Forensic Psychologist in the United Kingdom. Academically, the quality of his work has been recognised by the award of a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship for Outstanding Younger Scholars. He is the Editor, with Professor Graham Davies of the book ‘Practical Psychology for Forensic Investigations and Prosecutions’ published by Wiley.