arbiter
JournalsAccount

Legal Defense of Autistic Defendants in the United States: A Qualitative Analysis of the Experiences of Legal Professionals

Carolina R. Caliman & Colleen M. Berryessa

Journal of Social Issues2025https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.70034article
ABDC A
Weight
0.41

Abstract

Autistic individuals encounter distinct barriers within the criminal‐legal system, such as misinterpretations of their behaviors, a lack of accommodations, and systemic biases. Despite growing understanding of these challenges, research on how defense attorneys understand and advocate for autistic clients remains limited. This study explores how defense attorneys in the United States conceptualize autism and apply neurodiversity‐informed strategies in their advocacy. Semi‐structured interviews with 31 defense attorneys revealed that while most attorneys view autism through a medicalized lens, they acknowledge the need for better strategies to secure accommodations in court. Findings suggest that attorneys often rely on expert testimony and recognize the courtroom as primarily designed for neurotypical individuals. Gaps in training and understanding about neurodiversity may hinder effective defense strategies and limit access to justice for autistic defendants. This research highlights the urgent need for enhanced legal training and systemic reform to improve representation and legal experiences for autistic individuals.

2 citations

Open via your library →

Cite this paper

https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.70034

Or copy a formatted citation

@article{carolina2025,
  title        = {{Legal Defense of Autistic Defendants in the United States: A Qualitative Analysis of the Experiences of Legal Professionals}},
  author       = {Carolina R. Caliman & Colleen M. Berryessa},
  journal      = {Journal of Social Issues},
  year         = {2025},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.70034},
}

Paste directly into BibTeX, Zotero, or your reference manager.

Flag this paper

Legal Defense of Autistic Defendants in the United States: A Qualitative Analysis of the Experiences of Legal Professionals

Flags are reviewed by the Arbiter methodology team within 5 business days.

Evidence weight

0.41

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.25 × 0.4 = 0.10
M · momentum0.55 × 0.15 = 0.08
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.