Police and school officials are developing the voluntary registry to improve the safety of children in case they have an interaction with a police officer.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The Cranston Police Department and Cranston Public Schools are working together to implement a program that will help identify homes of children with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities.

The goal is to improve safety for children, and parents have the option to include their children in the registry, according to a news release from the chief of the Cranston Police Department, Col. Michael J. Winquist. Parents who wish to participate may fill out a form on the department's website. Forms are also being distributed through the city's public schools.

"The goal of this program is to improve the safety of children if, or when, they have an interaction with a police officer," the announcement said. "Statistics indicate that persons with autism are estimated to have up to seven times more contact with law enforcement agencies during their lifetimes, yet only 20 percent of patrol responses related to individuals with autism involve criminal activity."

Information collected will not be shared outside of the police department, and individuals entered into the registry can request to be removed from the database at any time, according to the release. Information collected will eventually be shared with the Cranston Fire Department.