Christine Vester

This isn't about leniency. It's about justice, and we've got to do better. You can't treat someone the same as a neurotypical defendant, career criminal, and call it fair if they experience reality in a completely different way, which with autistic individuals, they do. And when we treat it like this, we end up punishing people for how their brain works, for their disability.

This isn't about leniency. It's about justice, and we've got to do better. You can't treat someone the same as a neurotypical defendant, career criminal, and call it fair if they experience reality in a completely different way, which with autistic individuals, they do. And when we treat it like this, we end up punishing people for how their brain works, for their disability.

This isn't about leniency. It's about justice, and we've got to do better. You can't treat someone the same as a neurotypical defendant, career criminal, and call it fair if they experience reality in a completely different way, which with autistic individuals, they do. And when we treat it like this, we end up punishing people for how their brain works, for their disability.

Not for a real danger they've caused. Autism deserves informed understanding, not incarceration.

Not for a real danger they've caused. Autism deserves informed understanding, not incarceration.

Not for a real danger they've caused. Autism deserves informed understanding, not incarceration.

When they become incarcerated, prison is really harsh. It could be a death sentence. We've talked to families and it's heartbreaking. It's chaotic. It's a chaotic environment. For an autistic person, it can be traumatizing. not only for the person that's in the facility, but for the families, because they're told there's nothing they can do, which is not true. You have to advocate really hard.

When they become incarcerated, prison is really harsh. It could be a death sentence. We've talked to families and it's heartbreaking. It's chaotic. It's a chaotic environment. For an autistic person, it can be traumatizing. not only for the person that's in the facility, but for the families, because they're told there's nothing they can do, which is not true. You have to advocate really hard.

When they become incarcerated, prison is really harsh. It could be a death sentence. We've talked to families and it's heartbreaking. It's chaotic. It's a chaotic environment. For an autistic person, it can be traumatizing. not only for the person that's in the facility, but for the families, because they're told there's nothing they can do, which is not true. You have to advocate really hard.

There's noise, it's lights, the movement, lights flickering, lack of control, sensory overload, strict routines, shouting. It's a nightmare scenario. Autistic individuals may have meltdowns and withdraw completely. They might be punished for their behaviors that are actually signs of distress. And it's really hard for an officer or a correctional officer to really understand.

There's noise, it's lights, the movement, lights flickering, lack of control, sensory overload, strict routines, shouting. It's a nightmare scenario. Autistic individuals may have meltdowns and withdraw completely. They might be punished for their behaviors that are actually signs of distress. And it's really hard for an officer or a correctional officer to really understand.

There's noise, it's lights, the movement, lights flickering, lack of control, sensory overload, strict routines, shouting. It's a nightmare scenario. Autistic individuals may have meltdowns and withdraw completely. They might be punished for their behaviors that are actually signs of distress. And it's really hard for an officer or a correctional officer to really understand.

solitary confinement, don't get me started on this, is often used because they have to separate them sometimes, which can do so much harm on them.

solitary confinement, don't get me started on this, is often used because they have to separate them sometimes, which can do so much harm on them.

solitary confinement, don't get me started on this, is often used because they have to separate them sometimes, which can do so much harm on them.

Staff may not understand the needs of someone with a development disability, and other inmates may actually target them, use them because they're so naive, and even rape them. And I know we don't like to say this, but it happens.

Staff may not understand the needs of someone with a development disability, and other inmates may actually target them, use them because they're so naive, and even rape them. And I know we don't like to say this, but it happens.

Staff may not understand the needs of someone with a development disability, and other inmates may actually target them, use them because they're so naive, and even rape them. And I know we don't like to say this, but it happens.

It is very damaging. And it doesn't stop there. When someone's released after they've been incarcerated, they're expected to reenter into a world that hasn't changed. And without the support they need, probation rules may be too rigid. You know, services are scattered.

It is very damaging. And it doesn't stop there. When someone's released after they've been incarcerated, they're expected to reenter into a world that hasn't changed. And without the support they need, probation rules may be too rigid. You know, services are scattered.