Bridging the gap: Navigating autism spectrum disorder and the criminal justice system

This dissertation, comprised of three studies, adds to the growing body of literature at the intersection of law and psychology by exploring how Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is understood, communicated, and adjudicated across different stages of the US criminal-legal system, specifically courts. Study 1, using a qualitative semi-structured interview design informed by a neurodiversity framework, examines how defense attorneys in the United States conceptualize ASD and adapt their advocacy strategies when representing autistic clients in criminal proceedings. Study 2, using an experimental vignette design, investigates how members of the public perceive the adjudicative competency of juvenile defendants when ASD-related information is provided, and whether these perceptions vary as a function of the juvenile's age and the format in which diagnostic information is delivered. Study 3, using a systematic directed content analysis of published US criminal court opinions, explores how expert witnesses frame ASD in criminal cases involving defendants and complaining witnesses, what legal constructs expert testimony is linked to, and how these patterns differ depending on the courtroom role of the individual with the diagnosis. Overall, this dissertation expands existing literature to examine understudied questions about how neurodivergence intersects with the criminal-legal system, while providing empirical insight that should assist in developing more equitable legal practices, training standards, and policies for individuals with ASD involved in criminal proceedings.