Exploring the autistic and police perspectives of the custody process through a participative walkthrough

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Holloway, C. A., Munro, N., Jackson, J., Phillips, S., & Ropar, D. (2019). Exploring the autistic and police perspectives of the custody process through a participative walkthrough. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 97, 103545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2019.103545

Publication date: 4 Dec 2019 Added to AutiHub: 12 Aug 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
5
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 5 (20.0%)
  1. Chloe Alice Holloway
  2. Nell Munro
  3. John Jackson
  4. Sophie Phillips *
  5. Danielle Ropar

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Research suggests that autistic individuals may be more likely to come into contact with police and have more negative experiences in police custody. However, limited information about the difficulties they experience during the custody process is available. AIMS: This study explores the experiences of autistic individuals and officers during a walkthrough of the custody process to identify specific difficulties in these encounters and what support is needed to overcome these. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A participative walkthrough method was developed to provide autistic individuals and officers an interactive opportunity to identify areas where further support in the custody process was needed. Two autistic participants and three officers took part in the study. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Autistic participants reported negative experiences due to: i) the emotional impact of the physical setting and custody process ii) communication barriers leading to increased anxiety and iii) exposure to sensory demands. Officers highlighted three factors which limit their ability to support autistic individuals effectively: i) the custody context ii) barriers to communication and iii) knowledge and understanding of autism. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Adjustments are needed to the custody process and environment to support interactions between autistic individuals and officers and improve the overall wellbeing of autistic individuals.

Bibliography cited by this reference

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These indicators describe the cited bibliography imported for this publication. Cited-reference metrics use the cited-reference total as denominator. Cited-author metrics state whether they use all cited-author occurrences or only occurrences linked to authors already integrated in the AutiHub database. They use cached links between cited authors and authors integrated in the AutiHub database. Last computed: 16 Aug 2026 11:31.

Cited references
27
Total cited references integrated for this publication.
Cited references with an identified autistic author
5 / 27 (18.5%)
Cited author occurrences identified as autistic
8 / 92 (8.7%)
Among occurrences linked to AutiHub author records: 8 / 32 (25.0%). Distinct cited authors identified as autistic: 7 / 89 (7.9%).
Cited author occurrences linked to AutiHub author records
32 / 92 (34.8%)
Distinct linked cited authors: 29 / 89 (32.6%)
Linked cited-author occurrences not identified as autistic
24 / 32 (75.0%)
Among linked cited-author occurrences only. Across all cited-author occurrences: 24 / 92 (26.1%). Distinct linked cited authors not identified as autistic: 22 / 29 (75.9%).
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