FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Berkshire County Arc
395 South Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Berkshire County Arc Holds Pathways to Justice Conference
PITTSFIELD, Mass. (July 18, 2017) – Berkshire County Arc (BCArc) and The Arc of the Unites States’ National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability® (NCCJD) collaborated to hold the day-long Pathways to Justice® Conference for over 75 local law enforcement, victim service providers, and attorneys on Friday, June 16 at Berkshire Community College.
This conference was made possible by a grant through The Arc of the U.S. and the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). BCArc was one of six chapters in the country chosen to host these trainings. The grant focused on the creation of a Berkshire County Disability Response Team which is made up of representatives from: Berkshire County Arc (BCArc), Berkshire Community College (BCC), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Berkshire County Sheriff’s Department, Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office, Department of Children and Families (DCF), and the Pittsfield Police Department, Berkshire County Head Start, and The Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts (BIA-MA). This prestigious team worked to organize the training and build community investment and continued collaboration on issues related to criminal justice services for people with disabilities.
Two speakers from NCCJD, Leigh Ann Davis, M.S.S.W., M.P.A. and Ariel Simms, J.D., spoke on a variety of topics addressing some of the key barriers that limit successful interaction between individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with the criminal justice system. Other speakers included three self-advocates, law enforcement, and disability service providers.
Morning sessions focused on examining definitions of disability, and teaching specific strategies to help professionals recognize when they are interacting with a suspect or victim with an I/DD, and teaching guidelines for effective communication. The training challenged stereotypes, required attendees to examine their personal values and biases, and provided criminal justice professionals with the invaluable opportunity to hear from self-advocates Carol Neuhaus and Isabella Carey.
The afternoon session highlighted profession-specific programming which built on the morning’s training. Victim service providers learned about effective accommodations for supporting crime victims with disabilities, discussed current issues disproportionately impacting victims with I/DD (including trafficking and competency to testify), and learned about local and state resources. Presenters in this module included Cybèle Kilby, Director of Day and Family Enrichment Services at BCArc; Susan Vickers from the Disabled Persons Protection Commission; and James Miller and Veronica Loya from Awareness and Action.
Law enforcement professionals heard presentations from Tom Grady from the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Department and NCCJD staff designed to increase awareness of I/DD; to help officers identify if someone has I/DD; to teach successful communication tips to use when interacting, communicating, mirandizing, interviewing or interrogating people with I/DD; and to teach strategies that can help de-escalate potentially dangerous situations and minimize use of force. They also learned about a wide range of resources available to law enforcement within local communities.
Kenneth W. Singer, President & CEO of Berkshire County Arc said of the training, “we were so impressed with the showing of local providers at this training. It shows a real effort and want for togetherness along with a desire to best serve individuals with disabilities in challenging times”.
About Berkshire County Arc
Founded in 1954, Berkshire County Arc is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization providing a broad range of community-based services to 750 individuals with developmental disabilities, brain injuries and autism throughout Berkshire and Hampden Counties in Massachusetts. The agency offers three day programs, 37 residential programs, employment services, citizen- and self-advocacy programs, respite services, an adult family care program and Zip ‘N Sort Mail Services. For more information, media professionals may contact Katrina Cardillo at 413-499-4241, ext. 254 or kcardillo@bcarc.org, or visit https://bcarc.org.
About National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability
The Arc’s National Center for Criminal Justice and Disability® (NCCJD) is the first national effort of its kind to bring together both victim and suspect/offender issues involving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (or I/DD) under one roof.
NCCJD is a national clearinghouse for information and training on the topic of people with I/DD as victims, witnesses and suspects or offenders of crime. The Center provides training and technical assistance, an online resource library, white papers, and more. The Center created Pathways to Justice®, a comprehensive training program facilitated through chapters of The Arc, which assists officers to both identify disability, and know how to respond in ways that keep all parties as safe as possible. Pathways to Justice utilizes a multi-disciplinary response that provides a foundation for a collaborative approach among community partners.
Berkshire County Arc Contact: The Arc Contact:
Katrina Cardillo Suniti Sarah Bal
Director of Marketing & Development Director of Public Relations
413-499-4241 ext. 254 202-600-3494
kcardillo@bcarc.org bal@thearc.org
