Police interactions and the autistic community

Perceptions of procedural justice

Bibliographic Data

ID12312694
AuthorsVicki Gibbs (0000-0001-5058-5164, Autism Spectrum Australia, Forestville, NSW, Australia, corresponding author), Abigail M A Love (0000-0002-6647-9814, Autism Spectrum Australia, Forestville, NSW, Australia), Ru Ying Cai (0000-0002-2954-0495, Autism Spectrum Australia, Forestville, NSW, Australia), Kaaren Haas (0000-0002-1647-1988, Autism Spectrum Australia, Forestville, NSW, Australia)
Year2021
Volume38
Issue9
Pages1608-1625
Publication date2021-11-22
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDisability & Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0968-7599 • E-ISSN: 1360-0508
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09687599.2021.2007359
OpenAlexW3216527959
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited49

Autistic people are a vulnerable group in the community who are regularly coming into contact with police. This study examined the perceptions of autistic adults and parents of autistic people about the autistic person’s interactions with police using a procedural justice framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 autistic adults and 19 parents of autistic children and adults who recalled interactions with police in Australia in the previous five years. Content analysis of the descriptions of 39 separate interactions revealed that autistic adults’ perceptions of procedural justice were predominantly negative. The majority of accounts given by parents indicated a higher proportion of positive perceptions of procedural justice for their son or daughter. Findings shed light on the barriers to fair and just treatment that may exist for autistic people when interacting with police and ways that police may be supported to respond to autistic people in a procedurally just manner. Points of interestPeople who believe that police have treated them fairly are more likely to trust police and follow their directions.Previous research has found that many autistic people are very unhappy with their treatment by police but it is not clear why this is the case.The research found that autistic adults described many instances of unfair treatment by police and many of them no longer trust police. Parents of autistic children and adults also talked about unfair treatment but they also gave examples of times where police were helpful.Positive descriptions often included examples of police changing the way they spoke or did things to take into account the needs of the autistic person.The research recommended that police receive training about autism so that they can have a better understanding of how to talk with and assist autistic people

Autism · Daughter · Developmental psychology · Economic Justice · Perception · Perspective (graphical · Procedural justice · Child Abuse and Trauma · Psychology · Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending · Social Psychology · Stalking, Cyberstalking, and Harassment

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