As we work hard to bring autism to the forefront in these settings , we do so with a goal that nobody in the future will suffer negative effects of a justice system not built for them . We highlight that autistic people in the court system are for the most part there due to being victims of crimes , involved in custody or guardianship issues , or are the beneficiaries of trusts established for them . And when people with hidden disabilities get caught up in the criminal justice system , we need to correctly identify and count them to fight for funding and services to keep them out of jails and prisons - moving them instead to therapeutic alternatives to meet their needs .
Our latest request to Allegheny County is that the jail specifically ask " Has anyone ever told you you ' re autistic ?" at intake . It really is that simple and , as of this writing , it is not yet being done . Having this information is critical for the arraignment process where bail is determined . The addition of a 14-question screener ( the RAADS 14 ) to the healthcare record is the other goal we are working diligently to achieve . Autism is a relative newcomer to the medical " scene ," which is no excuse in the year 2022 to have it appear absolutely nowhere in the intake process or the electronic health record where it belongs alongside depression , diabetes , high blood pressure , epilepsy , etc . Our mission , to be a lifeline , means we will work to improve systems to support people in the ways they need and deserve .
All areas of the justice system need to take disability into consideration in decision making , environments , and policies and processes . Accommodations are lagging nationwide , especially in jails and prisons . Thanks to our funders and supporters , we able to take special care to understand how people get caught up in the justice system in the first place , and explore ways we as a society can support autism needs , especially methods to deflect and divert people out of carceral settings . So , thanks for reading this article , and please let us know anytime you have justice needs , or justice skills to share with others to help us be the best lifeline of support possible .