Autism Spectrum Disorder and Criminal Justice Interactions
Summary
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) encompasses a range of neurodevelopmental conditions marked by differences in social communication, sensory processing and repetitive behaviours. Within criminal justice systems globally, individuals with ASD face unique challenges from initial police contact through court proceedings and custodial settings. Difficulties in interpreting social cues and heightened sensory sensitivities can lead to misinterpretation of behaviour as non-compliance or deceit. Risk assessment protocols and sentencing practices often lack the nuance required to accommodate ASD-related vulnerabilities, while individuals with ASD are also disproportionately at risk of victimisation. Effective engagement requires targeted training for justice professionals, the implementation of reasonable adjustments at each stage of the process and the development of screening and assessment tools that accurately identify ASD in offender and witness populations.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder and Criminal Justice Interactions publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in autism spectrum disorder and criminal justice interactions across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A neurodevelopmental condition characterised by variations in social communication, sensory processing and repetitive behaviours.
Reasonable adjustment: A modification to standard procedures or environments in the criminal justice process to accommodate disabilities and ensure fair participation.
Sexual offending: The commission of sexual acts that contravene legal statutes, including non-consensual or exploitative behaviours.
Forensic assessment: A structured evaluation of an individual’s cognitive, behavioural and mental health characteristics for legal decision-making.
References
- Identification and support of autistic individuals within the UK Criminal Justice System: a practical approach based upon professional consensus with input from lived experience. BMC Medicine (2024).
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and sexual offending: A systematic review. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (2024).
- Autism and the criminal justice system: An analysis of 93 cases. Autism Research (2022).
- Autistic Adults May Be Erroneously Perceived as Deceptive and Lacking Credibility. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (2021).
- Exploring the autistic and police perspectives of the custody process through a participative walkthrough. Research in Developmental Disabilities (2019).
- Evaluation of a Screening Instrument for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Prisoners. PLOS ONE (2012).
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