Experiences of Autistic People in Police Custody: The Need for Adjustments to Improve Participation in the Custody...

The aim of this study was to understand what influences autistic people's experiences of police custody and how their participation in the custody process may be affected. In addition, the study aimed to understand what strategies may mitigate any potential difficulties autistic people have in police custody. Twelve autistic people were interviewed about their experiences of being detained in police custody as suspects and their views on how to improve support in this setting. Participants described how the combined impact of not being able to understand their arrest and detention as suspects and having to cope with the demands associated with being detained in the custody environment, adversely affected their participation in the custody process. They referred to experiencing a desire to escape police custody which influenced the how they made key decisions and engaged in the police interview. Because of these negative experiences and potential consequences, participants also discussed the importance of making adjustments in order to mitigate the potential impact on their participation in the custody process. The findings illustrate how the overall experiences of autistic people are influenced by the combination of the difficulties experienced by autistic people understanding their arrest and detention, being able to cope with the custody environment and the detrimental impact this can have on their participation in the custody process. They also demonstrate the importance of making adjustments to support their participation in the custody process.