ABSTRACT
It is generally agreed that, for many people, contact with the criminal justice system can be a challenging and negative experience. Such situations would be considered stressful for anyone but is potentially even more stressful for someone with a diagnosis of ASD (Allely & Cooper, 2017; North, Russell, & Gudjonsson, 2008). For people with ASD, contact with the criminal justice system can even be traumatic (Chown, 2010). Indeed, there are a range of characteristics and behaviours which are commonly presented by individuals with ASD and which can adversely affect communication during investigating interviews and court proceedings. These behaviours can often lead to misinterpretations and misunderstandings. Individuals with an ASD may experience considerable difficulties in being able to understand police and court demands, while simultaneously struggling to be understood by the practitioners working in those settings. It is imperative that there is an understanding of the influence that having a diagnosis of ASD can have on the interview or questioning process given the important function that these processes can have within a number of forensic contexts (e.g., Nesca & Dalby, 2013; Murphy, 2018).
