A critical review of current police training and policy for autism spectrum disorder
| Pages | 212-222 |
| Date | 11 December 2017 |
| Published date | 11 December 2017 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JIDOB-06-2017-0011 |
| Author | Diana Hepworth |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities,Offending behaviour,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Deviant behaviour,Education,Special education/gifted education,Emotional/behavioural disorders |
A critical review of current police training
and policy for autism spectrum disorder
Diana Hepworth
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to critically review the current police training and criminal justice
policy regarding the treatment of suspects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during the initial stagesof the
criminal justice system (CJS), and provide potential policy reform and areas for further research.
Design/methodology/approach –By reviewing extant literature, research and policy documents, this
paper provides a critical review of the current policy and training for dealing with suspects with ASD in the
current CJS in England and Wales for suspects with ASD.
Findings –This paper proposes that current policy and police staff training is insufficient during all initial
stages of the criminal justice process. Although there are emerging policies and schemes which are
promising, they require further research and national participation. Policy reform and improved training is
required to ensure minimal opportunities for miscarriages of justice to those individuals with ASD.
Originality/value –Thispaper provides a chronologicaljourney throughthe initial stages of the CJSin England
and Wales for a suspectwith ASD, and the challenges that they may face. Suggestions are madebased on
criminologicaland psychological research to remedy the potential opportunities for miscarriages of justice.
Keywords Police, Criminal justice, Custody, Autism spectrum disorder, Suspect, Offending behaviour
Paper type Literature review
Introduction
Individuals with autismspectrum disorder (ASD)face many social challenges in everyday life, which
can become exacerbated during the criminal justice process. Typical symptoms of ASD, such as
poor communication and interpersonal skills, may be interpreted as incriminating, putting those with
ASD at a distinctdisadvantage fromthe very beginning of a criminalinvestigation.The presentation
of behavioural symptomsof ASD can both make an individual morevulnerable to certainaspects of
the criminaljustice system (CJS),and also might increase their riskof becoming involvedin the CJS
in the first instance. Research suggeststhat individuals with ASDare up to seven times more likely
to enter the CJS than their neurotypical peers (Curry et al., 1993). The current criminal justice
response in England and Wales is unequipped to deal with offenders with ASD (Browning
and Caulfield, 2011), though progress isbeing made. Last year saw thefirst prison in England and
Wales,HMYOI Feltham, receiveaccreditationfrom the National AutisticSociety (NAS),after working
on its standards of care forautistic offendersfor two years (Lewis et al.,2 015).While this is a step in
the right direction, there is still much work ahead. A systematic literature search on psychological
and criminological databases (JSTOR, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, PsychINFO and Academic
Search Premier) yields little research on the initial stages of a criminal investigation. Much of the
relevant research focuses on interview techniques for those with ASD, and treatment during trials
and imprisonment, but little attention has been paid to the rights of the individual during this
process, and the potential for injustice in cases involving individuals with ASD. It is clear that further
academic interest is required to investigate and inform future policy, to ensure those with ASD are
subject to the same constructs of justice that neurotypical counterparts receive.
ASD, often referred to as an invisible disability, affects an estimated 1 in 45 people (Zablotsky
et al., 2015). It is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder which is characterised by the so-called
Received 22 June 2017
Revised 10 October 2017
Accepted 11 October 2017
Diana Hepworth is a
PhD Researcher at the
University of Salford,
Manchester, UK.
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JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND OFFENDING BEHAVIOUR
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VOL. 8 NO. 4 2017, pp.212-222, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8824 DOI 10.1108/JIDOB-06-2017-0011
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