More trained to help people with special needs who break the law

When people with special needs break the law, their anxiety may be even more pronounced as they go through police interviews, court hearings and prison stints.

- Christine Tan

To address this, more people have been trained to help those with special needs navigate the criminal justice system.

The Appropriate Adult Scheme for Persons with Mental Disabilities had 90 volunteers in 2016 when Minds - then known as the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore - was appointed to run it.

It now has more than 360 volunteers as at December 2024.

Appropriate Adults (AAs) are volunteers trained to assist those with intellectual disabilities, autism or mental health issues through interviews with the authorities, by facilitating effective communication and providing emotional support.

Retiree Madan Mohan Singh, 72, an AA with 12 years' experience, said suspects usually feel scared and intimidated during police interviews.

Mr Singh sets them at ease by introducing himself as their "buddy".

He said: "They need somebody whom they can trust, (in order) to be open."

Madam Kng Kim Eng, 60, a part-time technology consultant who has been an AA for six years, once helped a woman with intellectual disability during a police interview. The woman became emotional as she did not understand why she was accused of being a money mule.