The resources, trainings and tools within this collection, are designed to explain different steps within the justice system or different justice related experiences that may occur. They are designed to be a one stop shop for individuals, supporters, families as well as justice system professionals.
Resources specifically for law enforcement, first responders and justice professionals include:
– Guides and resources for justice system professionals to utilize when working with individuals with autism.
– Resources to explain the presentations of autism to help first responders and justice professionals better understand and have positive interactions with individuals with autism.
– Videos to show law enforcement, first responders and justice professionals how to be effective communicators with individuals with autism in different situations and environments.
– Opportunities to request justice-related autism training for your organization
People with autism, intellectual, and/or other developmental disabilities come in contact with the criminal justice system just as individuals without disabilities. However, when this population experiences this complex system, it can become more complicated to navigate. For example, professionals in the justice system field who represent, charge, or convict individuals with disabilities, they may not have the skills to identify and/or understand their symptoms, actions, and behaviors that coincide with their disability or diagnosis.
This section is designed to provide information, trainings, and resources about the justice system and disability laws to help individuals with autism, intellectual, and/or other developmental disabilities, their families, supporters, and advocates. Additionally, these trainings and resources can be used to train and educate justice system professionals to learn how to support someone with autism.
PACT (Police Autism Community Training) is dedicated to training first responders how to work effectively with people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. They also work within the autism community to ensure our families and individuals are prepared to have a positive interaction in crisis situations.
Autistic people are more likely to be victims and witnesses of crime than offenders. These resources offers guidance on how to make the Criminal Justice System experience better for autistic people and their families.
There are guides for parents and caregivers, autistic adults, police officers, and professionals.
This information sheet from Autism Safety Education and Training is for police officers and provides tips for interacting with individuals who have autism spectrum disorder.
This article from Autism Speaks provides general information for law enforcement personnel about autism as well as some useful tips for interacting with an individual who may have autism.
Many individuals living with autism have difficulties processing information, processing sensory input, communicating effectively, and responding in socially appropriate ways. Here are some ways to help alleviate those difficulties so that you, the offender, and the community will be S.A.F.E.R.!
The ACT for Autism training module introduces emergency department personnel to the unique characteristics and needs of people with an autism spectrum disorder.
This infographic from ASERT provides strategies for justice system professionals to use with individuals with autism when preparing to appear in court.
At the bottom of this page, EMS and safety partners can find resources and informational handouts to promote information about the yellow dot program and how it can be used to benefit individuals who may not be able to communicate their needs themselves.
This three part webinar series is designed to teach prosecutors and defenders important information when it comes to representing individuals with disabilities. Topics include: Legal Landscape of Disability Rights and Criminal Justice, Trial Considerations for Criminal Defense Attorneys, and Trial Considerations for Prosecutors.
When people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) encounter or are involved in the criminal justice system, they often experience a system that is unable to address their unique needs and face misconceptions about their abilities. This brief offers important steps that criminal justice administrators can take to better identify and respond to the needs of people with IDD.
Tens of thousands of people incarcerated in jails and prisons throughout the United States have one or more communication disabilities, a term that describes persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, low vision, deaf-blind, speech disabled, or otherwise disabled in ways that affect communication. This white paper offers a starting point for
jails and prisons to avoid discrimination, promote integration, and ensure effective communication.
We know that the issues involved in assisting victims with disabilities present tremendous challenges. But we have full confidence that the victim assistance and disability advocacy communities will embrace these challenges like they have so many others. Working with Crime Victims with Disabilities represents a small but significant step toward ensuring justice and access to services for all crime victims.
There are many points of potential concern when offenders with IDD move through the criminal justice system, from initial arrest, booking and processing, discussion of charges and potential pleas, the trial phase, to postconviction. This chapter focuses on offenders with IDD in the postconviction stage of the criminal justice system and provides recommendations for how the criminal justice system could respond more effectively to offenders with IDD.
The GAINS Center offers training that helps educate criminal justice professionals about the impact of trauma and how to develop trauma-informed responses.
This brochure is designed to provide facts about autism to law enforcement and other first responders. Learn how individuals may react in emergency situations, and tips for responding.