The Appropriate Adult
Their perspective working in the criminal justice system
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12900233 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Laura Farrugia (0000-0001-8981-9546, Northumbria University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 882-899 |
| Publication date | 2023-09-02 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Criminology & Criminal Justice (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1748-8958 • E-ISSN: 1748-8966 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/17488958231193126 |
| OpenAlex | W4386391284 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 21 |
Vulnerable individuals are increasingly coming into custody. One safeguard implemented by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and Codes of Practice is the Appropriate Adult measure. However, little is known about how the Appropriate Adult constructs and understands their role and the implications this may have for the enactment of their role. The current study aimed to explore how Appropriate Adults and others experience and understand their role when working with vulnerable individuals. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 Appropriate Adults and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Overall, two superordinate and six subordinate themes emerged from the data that highlighted the complex and confusing role of the Appropriate Adult. In addition, Appropriate Adults suggested that they may be less likely to perform their duties if faced with excessive conflict from others working in custody. The research raises implications regarding the understanding and utilisation of the Appropriate Adult role and for the treatment and outcome of the vulnerable adult in custody. That is, if the Appropriate Adult remains passive in their role, the vulnerable individual in custody is not being appropriately safeguarded and remains at risk of providing unreliable, self-incriminating information or even a false confession
Confession (law · Criminal justice · Criminology · Interpretative phenomenological analysis · Perspective (graphical · Political science · Qualitative research · Sociology · Superordinate goals · Child Abuse and Trauma · Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis · Law · Psychology · Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending · Social Psychology
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Characterising and justifying sample size sufficiency in interview-based studies
The Performance of Volunteer Appropriate Adults
The Other Side of Silence’
Reconstructing the role of the appropriate adult in England and Wales
Safeguarding the rights of suspects in police custody
Mentally Disordered Suspects in the Criminal Justice System
| Highly cited | No |
|---|