Autism and Criminal Justice

This work summarises current knowledge regarding autistic suspects, defendants and offenders in the English and Welsh criminal justice system. It examines the interaction between each stage of the criminal justice process and autistic individuals accused or convicted of crime, considering problems, strengths and options for improving the system.

Tom Smith is an Associate Professor in Law and a Head of the Global Security, Crime and Justice research group within the College of Business and Law, University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol, UK. His research interests include remand, disclosure of evidence in criminal proceedings, criminal defence lawyers, criminal legal aid, court reporting and open justice, and neurodivergence within the criminal justice system. He has published widely on these and related subjects. He has undertaken various research activities with NGOs, charities and government bodies, including working on cross-jurisdictional projects related to criminal defence and a pretrial detention reform project in China; delivering training for the Judicial College and College of Policing on disclosure; and giving evidence to the Victorian Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants and various House of Commons Select Committee inquiries. He is the founder and joint coordinator of the Neurodivergence in Criminal Justice Network (NICJN), a research and knowledge exchange group seeking to promote evidence-led practice in criminal justice processes involving neurodivergent individuals, which brings together expertise from academia, practice and the community.

Acknowledgements List of Contributors List of Abbreviations List of Figures Table of Cases Table of Legislation Introduction TOM SMITH 1 'Street' Policing and Autism: Perceptions and Preconceptions of Police Officers When Interacting with Autistic Suspects in the Community SHIRLEY REVELEY AND IAIN DICKIE 2 Autistic Suspects in Police Custody: Issues Affecting the Effectiveness and Fairness of Police Interviews CLARE ALLELY AND DAVID MURPHY 3 Autistic Defendants in Court: Perceptions and Support for Accessing Justice CLARE ALLELY, EDDIE CHAPLIN, JODY SALTER, JANE McCARTHY AND FELICITY GERRY 4 Autism in Prisons: An Overview of Experiences of Custody and Implications for Custodial Rehabilitation for Autistic Prisoners LUKE P VINTER AND GAYLE DILLON Conclusion TOM SMITH Bibliography Further Recommended Reading Index