The role of the appropriate adult in supporting vulnerable adults in custody: Comparing the perspectives of service users and service providers

Jessiman, Tricia; Cameron, Ailsa M

doi:10.1111/bld.12201

Cited by 22 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 9 publications

(15 reference statements)

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“…There is a debate as to which ‘type’ of appropriate adult is preferable. Parents and relatives, for example, may be preferred by the suspect because they know the suspect better (Jessiman and Cameron ; see also Rock ). Yet, relatives may be ill‐prepared, unsupportive, inactive, combative, or too emotionally involved (Evans ; Evans and Puech ; Littlechild ; Pierpoint ; Quinn and Jackson ).…”

Section: The Appropriate Adult Safeguard: Core Dimensions and Key Chamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Jessiman and Cameron () in their research involving service users have mapped out what could be considered the ‘ideal’ appropriate adult . The appropriate adult should be calm, caring, and calming.…”

Section: The Appropriate Adult Safeguard: Core Dimensions and Key Chamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They may also be keen to avoid conflict with the police and may be viewed, by suspects, as part of the system (Pierpoint 2000). While professionalisation may provide the solution (Pierpoint 2011), service users may prefer someone who they can trust and place confidence in, and who knows about their individual needs (Jessiman and Cameron 2017).…”

Section: The Appropriate Adult Safeguard: Core Dimensions and Key Chamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The appropriate adult should also be comfortable with asking the police to explain their role and is prepared to intervene when required, and should be someone with whom the suspect has empathy (Pierpoint 2000, p.388, citing DPP v. Blake). Jessiman and Cameron (2017) in their research involving service users have mapped out what could be considered the 'ideal' appropriate adult. 5 The appropriate adult should be calm, caring, and calming.…”

Section: The Appropriate Adult Safeguard: Core Dimensions and Key Chamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The role can encompass, inter alia, due process, crime prevention, emotional support, and welfare (Jessiman and Cameron ; Pierpoint ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Can – and Should – Lawyers be Considered ‘Appropriate’ Appropriate Adults?

Dehaghani

Newman

2018

Howard J Crime Justice

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This article furthers the debate on vulnerable suspects by bringing together research on appropriate adults and criminal defence lawyers. The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) forbids all lawyers from acting as appropriate adults. The courts, in very limited case law, have taken a different approach, leaving a space in which lawyers might be considered suitable to fill the gap left by an appropriate adult's absence. This account is supported by exploring the views of custody officers on the appropriate adult and its use, drawing upon empirical data. Fieldwork with defence lawyers is then explored to highlight how lawyers might have some of the suitable characteristics of the appropriate adult but could not realistically perform such duties in practice (or conceptually). This article illustrates that lawyers are ill‐equipped to deal with a client's vulnerability and therefore argues that they should never be viewed as an ‘appropriate adult replacement’.

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Section: The Appropriate Adult Safeguard: Core Dimensions and Key Chamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Appropriate Adult Safeguard: Core Dimensions and Key Chamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Appropriate Adult Safeguard: Core Dimensions and Key Chamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Appropriate Adult Safeguard: Core Dimensions and Key Chamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The role can encompass, inter alia, due process, crime prevention, emotional support, and welfare (Jessiman and Cameron ; Pierpoint ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Can – and Should – Lawyers be Considered ‘Appropriate’ Appropriate Adults?

Dehaghani

Newman

2018

Howard J Crime Justice

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The “appropriate adult”: What they do and what they should do in police interviews with mentally disordered suspects

Farrugia

Gabbert

2019

Criminal Behav Ment Health

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Background In almost all countries worldwide, the first point of contact with the criminal justice system is with the police. A large proportion of these individuals may have vulnerabilities, such as mental health difficulties. Given the complexities associated with vulnerable suspects, such interviews may be compromised, which could lead to a miscarriage of justice. In England and Wales, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 and its accompanying Codes of Practice lay down requirements for interviewing vulnerable suspects and provide for attendance of “appropriate adults” to support communication between police and the vulnerable suspect. To date, however, their role has been underresearched. Aims/Hypotheses To explore the role of appropriate adults in police interviews and test the hypotheses, first, that appropriate adults more commonly remain passive during interview than expected from guidance and, second, that any interventions are more likely than not to follow examples in current guidance. Methods Transcripts of police interviews conducted with suspects with possible mental disorder and an appropriate adult present (N = 27) were analysed using a specially developed coding framework. Results Appropriate adults were significantly more likely to remain passive than to intervene, even when current guidance would suggest intervention. When they did intervene, however, such interventions were significantly more likely than not to follow from guidance than the vulnerable suspect's needs. Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984. Conclusions/implications for practice In our sample, appropriate adults were not fulfilling their role as outlined in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984 and accompanying Codes of Practice; specifically, they appeared to know what to do but not when to do it. There is a heightened risk of a miscarriage of justice in such circumstances without improvements.

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