Are autistic people disadvantaged by the criminal justice system? A case comparison.
Rachel Slavny-Cross, Carrie Allison, Sarah Griffiths and 1 others
PMID 36544404WHAT IT FOUND
Autistic adults reported worse experiences with police than non-autistic peers, citing stress and noise.
They were five times more likely to feel they needed an appropriate adult during questioning but did not receive one. Both groups struggled to access support.
Key findings
01Autistic participants were significantly less satisfied with how police treated them during arrest, custody, and questioning compared to non-autistic participants.
02Autistic participants were nearly five times more likely than non-autistic participants to report needing an appropriate adult during police interviews but not receiving one.
03When asked why they felt unable to communicate with police, autistic participants were significantly more likely to cite stress, noise, and difficulty processing questions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study relies on self-report data from adults recalling arrests that may have happened years prior, which can affect accuracy. The sample was predominantly white, which limits generalisability to other ethnic groups. Many autistic participants were undiagnosed at the time of their arrest, making it difficult to separate the effects of autism from the lack of diagnosis. The study did not collect data on the date of arrest, so it cannot account for changes in legislation or police practice over time.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. Funding was provided by the Wellcome Trust, the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking (which includes support from the European Union and pharmaceutical industry associations), the Autism Research Trust, and other research foundations.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that an autistic client's silence or flat affect during a police interview indicates guilt or non-compliance. The study found that autistic people often struggle to communicate due to stress and sensory overload, not a refusal to engage. Also, do not assume that a diagnosis automatically leads to appropriate support; autistic participants with diagnoses were still significantly more likely to report unmet needs.