Pilot Survey: Police Understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Christiansen, Audrey; Minich, Nori; Clark, Marie

doi:10.1007/s10803-021-04968-z

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…(2019) in the USA with law enforcement officers ( n = 72) reported that 72.2% had not received any form of autism training. A further study conducted by Christiansen et al . (2021) with 51 US police officers reported only 53% had received some autism training, and 55% officers felt the training they had received was not sufficient to assist them when interacting with autistic people.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

A pilot study of co-produced autism training for police custody staff: evaluating the impact on perceived knowledge change and behaviour intentions

Holloway

Munro

Cossburn

et al. 2022

PIJPSM

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PurposeAutistic people have reported particularly negative experiences in police custody, which can lead to significant long-term personal and legal consequences. Research has suggested providing autism training to police forces would help improve the support of autistic people, but there is a distinct lack of appropriate autism training available. An evidence-based autism training package specifically tailored to the roles of custody staff was co-produced by autistic people, academics and police staff to address this. A pilot study was conducted to further understand its value in terms of perceived changes in knowledge and future behaviour intentions.Design/methodology/approachA total of 18 sessions were held across five police forces in England attended by police staff working in custody (n = 142). The sessions were delivered in person using a presentation and video replicating the experiences of autistic people during the custody process. Attendees completed a survey rating their perceived changes in knowledge of autism after the session and described changes they planned to make in their practice to support autistic people.FindingsThe majority of police custody officers rated the training highly on its content, delivery and informativeness about autism. Participants also reported a change in perceived knowledge about autism, with those who reported having the least amount of knowledge prior to training indicating the greatest change. Responses about intended changes to future behaviour and practice showed a clear indication of specific understanding about autism and strategies to support autistic individuals in custody.Originality/valueThis is the first study to outline, assess and evaluate the impact of the first evidence-based and co-produced autism training package specifically designed for custody staff on perceived knowledge and intended behaviour.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

A pilot study of co-produced autism training for police custody staff: evaluating the impact on perceived knowledge change and behaviour intentions

Holloway

Munro

Cossburn

et al. 2022

PIJPSM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Research estimates that 1 in 54 children in the US are autistic, a marked increase from 1 in 150 twenty years prior (Baio et al, 2018;Maenner et al, 2020). Despite the relative commonness of autism, few in the general public have firsthand experience interacting with autistic individuals, and often what individuals do know about autistic individuals draws from representations in popular entertainment and news media (Christiansen et al, 2021). The American Psychiatric Association ([APA], 2013) defines autism as a neurological developmental disorder associated with marked differences in communication, social skills, and sensory perception compared to their neurotypical counterparts.…”

Section: Autism In the Usmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While a substantial body of research has examined public perceptions of the police and police legitimacy broadly, relatively little work has examined perceptions of the police among members of neurodiverse communities. Much of the current research in this area has focused on police training and tactics for interacting with autistic individuals as well as the experiences, fears, and perceptions of parents or caregivers (Christiansen, et al, 2021;Chown, 2010;Gardner & Campbell, 2020;Wallace et al, 2020). Largely absent from the discussion are the opinions and perceptions of autistic adults themselves (for exceptions see: Salerno & Schuller, 2019Salerno-Ferraro & Schuller, 2020.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Divergent perspectives: Autistic adults’ perceptions of the police

Parry

Huff

2022

Preprint

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Findingsindicate that autistic respondents vary in their perceptions of the police. Prior negative experiences with police have a stronger influence on perceptions than do positive experiences. Support for awareness campaigns is also varied. Originality: Despite high-profile police incidents involving autistic individuals, there have been no empirical examinations of autistic adults' global perceptions of the police or police-led autism awareness campaigns. The current study addresses this oversight by directly examining autistic adults' perceptions. This approach is particularly salient given the ongoing police public scrutiny surrounding officer interactions with individuals from special populations, which is largely uninformed by research centering the voices of impacted individuals.

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“…While a substantial body of research has examined public perceptions of the police and police legitimacy broadly, relatively little work has examined perceptions of the police among members of neurodiverse communities. Much of the current research in this area has focused on police training and tactics for interacting with autistic individuals as well as the experiences, fears and perceptions of parents or caregivers (Christiansen et al, 2021;Chown, 2010;Gardner and Campbell, 2020;Wallace et al, 2021). Largely absent from the discussion are the opinions and perceptions of autistic adults themselves (for exceptions, see: Schuller, 2019 Salerno-Ferraro andSchuller, 2020) [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, 2020). Despite the relative commonness of autism, few in the general public have firsthand experience interacting with autistic individuals, and often what individuals do know about autistic individuals draws from representations in popular entertainment and news media (Christiansen et al. , 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Divergent perspectives: autistic adults' perceptions of the police

Parry

Huff

2022

PIJPSM

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

PurposeMuch of the current criminological research regarding police and the autistic community focuses on police training for interacting with autistic individuals or the experiences, fears and perceptions of parents or caregivers. Largely absent from the criminological research are the opinions and perceptions of autistic adults. The purpose of the paper is to examine perceptions of the police and police-led initiatives among these individuals.Design/methodology/approachThe authors analyze data from 121 autistic adults regarding their perceptions of the police and police-led autism awareness efforts using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression. Variables of interest include perceptions of procedural justice, police treatment of autistic individuals, fear of interacting with police and perceptions of police autism awareness campaigns.FindingsFindings indicate that autistic respondents vary in perceptions of the police. Prior negative experiences with police have a stronger influence on perceptions than do positive experiences. Support for awareness campaigns is also varied.Originality/valueDespite high-profile police incidents involving autistic individuals, there have been no empirical examinations of autistic adults' global perceptions of the police or police-led autism awareness campaigns. The current study addresses that oversight by directly examining autistic adults' perceptions. The approach is particularly salient given the ongoing police public scrutiny surrounding officer interactions with individuals from special populations, which is largely uninformed by research centering the voices of impacted individuals.

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Pilot Survey: Police Understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Cited by 10 publications

References 15 publications

A pilot study of co-produced autism training for police custody staff: evaluating the impact on perceived knowledge change and behaviour intentions

A pilot study of co-produced autism training for police custody staff: evaluating the impact on perceived knowledge change and behaviour intentions

Divergent perspectives: Autistic adults’ perceptions of the police

Divergent perspectives: autistic adults' perceptions of the police

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