“A young man with PWS is arrested for taking a
sandwich and soda out of an unlocked car.”
“The police are called when a young woman with PWS
is caught taking a bag of candy that belongs to someone else.”
Encounters with law enforcement are particularly scary for people with PWS
and their families. To help minimize these potential crisis situations we
recommend the following:
Prevention is a key step in crisis management so educate your local
police department before a crisis happens. Visit the police in your local
precinct and share with them PWS educational materials. Consider creating a
one page sheet specific to your loved one including a picture and tips on
what might be helpful in a crisis situation (i.e. don’t touch). If you have
a school age child, don’t forget to include school police resource officers
as well.
Keep on hand a supply of PWSA (USA) resources posted in the “Links and
Resources” section.
If an incident with law enforcement does occur, contact a crisis
counselor at PWSA (USA) right away (800-926-4797) along with your local PWSA
chapter. It is essential that police, public defenders, judges, and district
attorneys understand as quickly as possible how PWS contributed to what
appears to be an incident punishable by law. This moves the discussion from
criminality to disability. Guardianship
Many parents of a child with PWS consider guardianship for their child either
at 18 or later. We recommend that parents explore this option to determine
whether it is an appropriate step to take. Some parents also explore using a
special needs trust to plan for their child’s future. Helpful resources on both
topics are posted in the “Links and Resources” section.
