TY - JOUR
T1 - Brief Report: Autism in the Courtroom
T2 - Experiences of Legal Professionals and the Autism Community
AU - Maras, Katie
AU - Laura, Crane
AU - Mulcahy, Sue
AU - Hawken, Tamsyn
AU - Cooper, Penny
AU - Wurzel, David
AU - Memon, Amina
PY - 2017/8
Y1 - 2017/8
N2 - Online surveys were used to sample the views of judges, barristers and solicitors (n=33) about their engagement with autistic individuals in criminal courts in England and Wales. Despite an understanding of some of the difficulties experienced by individuals with autism, and the adjustments suitable for supporting them, legal professionals reported constraints arising from a lack of understanding by others within the criminal justice system. These results are considered alongside the views and perspectives of autistic adults (n=9) and parents of children on the autism spectrum (n=19), who had encountered the criminal courts as witnesses or defendants and were largely dissatisfied with their experiences. Training, understanding and the provision of appropriate adjustments were identified as key issues by all respondent groups.
AB - Online surveys were used to sample the views of judges, barristers and solicitors (n=33) about their engagement with autistic individuals in criminal courts in England and Wales. Despite an understanding of some of the difficulties experienced by individuals with autism, and the adjustments suitable for supporting them, legal professionals reported constraints arising from a lack of understanding by others within the criminal justice system. These results are considered alongside the views and perspectives of autistic adults (n=9) and parents of children on the autism spectrum (n=19), who had encountered the criminal courts as witnesses or defendants and were largely dissatisfied with their experiences. Training, understanding and the provision of appropriate adjustments were identified as key issues by all respondent groups.
U2 - 10.1007/s10803-017-3162-9
DO - 10.1007/s10803-017-3162-9
M3 - Article
SN - 0162-3257
VL - 47
SP - 2610
EP - 2620
JO - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
JF - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
IS - 8
ER -