How People with Autism End Up in the Legal System...It's Not What You Think!

How Misconstrued Behaviors of Autism in the Legal System Can Take a Turn for the Worst If you saw a defendant in the courtroom laughing, smiling, or reading comic books during an emotionally painful hearing, many people's immediate reaction would likely be anger over the perceived lack of remorse and inappropriate behavior to the social context. However, someone who understands autism and the difficulty that individuals with autism have with understanding social cues may offer a different explanation for these behaviors. Our returning guest for this episode is Colleen Berryessa, PhD, who is an Associate Professor at Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice. She talks to Equilibria psychologist, Erica Burgoon, PhD, about how these misunderstandings of behavior and intent in the legal system can have serious consequences for people with autism, and how the common legal outcomes for the crimes do not achieve the goals they are meant to serve for someone with autism. They discuss the various ways in which the autism-related behaviors and symptoms can lead to unintended actions that brought them into the legal system, as well as how these symptoms and behaviors are commonly misunderstood by people who expect socially appropriate or normative behaviors. They also share tips and resources on how loved ones can advocate for someone with autism who finds themselves in the legal system. Learn more about Dr. Berryessa's work at: https://www.colleenberryessa.com ✅ Don't forget to "LIKE" this episode if you enjoyed watching, and to SUBSCRIBE to this channel so you won't miss any episodes. ✅ CONNECT with us and FOLLOW Equilibria Psychological and Consultation Services on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. ✅ If you live in Pennsylvania, and would like to seek mental health therapy, please visit our website at: https://equilibriapcs.com Equilibria Psychological and Consultation Services offers individual, couples, and family psychotherapy to people of all ages for in-person appointments in the Greater Philadelphia area or virtual appointments across Pennsylvania. Due to licensure laws, there may be limited availability for virtual appointments for people residing in other states.