Child Victims and Witnesses with Autism: Interactions with the Legal System

Children with disabilities are at a high risk of victimization (Christoffersen, 2019; Fang et al., 2022; Jones et al., 2012). The distinctive characteristics of their disabilities can make them particularly vulnerable, and they might also be the only witness to observe criminal acts (e.g., interpersonal violence; Cooke et al., 2024). The types of support and adaptations required for the unique needs of individuals with disabilities have become a major topic in research and the legal system. Although there are varying sociocognitive propensities for individuals with disabilities such as autism, research indicates that tailored, supportive interviewing techniques and facilitative interactions can aid most autistic individuals to provide evidence of similar volume and accuracy to typically developing (TD) populations (e.g., Almeida et al., 2019; Denne et al., 2024; Henry, Crane, et al., 2017; Wilcock et al., 2019).

Prior chapters in this book focus on TD childrenʼs interactions with the legal system as victims and witnesses. We begin this chapter by outlining the key sociocognitive characteristics of individuals with autism. Then, we review the existing research literature on interviewing autistic individuals and consider othersʼ perceptions of these individualsʼ credibility. Next, we provide an overview of the long-term effects of autistic individualsʼ involvement in the legal system. Finally, we discuss how this research informs policy and influences practice in the legal system to accommodate autistic individuals.