Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) continue to become embroiled in tragic and often preventable circumstances necessitating intensive criminal justice system involvement. This happens despite the exhaustive efforts of parents, educators, advocates, therapeutic providers, and professionals within the criminal justice system.  According to current estimates of the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, one in 45 adults in the United States are identified with ASD. This makes ASD one of the most frequently occurring developmental disabilities in the United States. Autism remains undiagnosed for many individuals for a variety of reasons, yet it occurs frequently within all racial, ethnic, and socio-economic groups and is five times more likely to affect males.

While many states now require law enforcement professionals and members of the criminal justice system to receive annual training about ASD, these overviews are often inadequate and frequently fail to assist criminal justice personnel in understanding and supporting clients with ASD. Moreover, there is a significant scarcity of forensic personnel who understand ASD, leaving those on the spectrum at increased risk of victimization and ineffective rehabilitative programming.

Participants in this online training with Dr. Spence, a world-renown expert in the treatment and assessment of justice-involved people with autism, receive detailed information about ASD along with documented case examples that illustrate the consequences facing ASD clients within the criminal justice system and practical strategies for identifying characteristics of ASD in non-diagnosed clients.  The training includes information about current literature regarding comorbid disorders and disparities in diagnoses among minority groups. Participants will also receive practical suggestions for preventing ASD clients from violating the law and strategies for intervening with ASD clients who have violated the law.