Understanding Criminal Law for Individuals with Autism

The inclusion of individuals with autism within communities has been a long-running theme for the Autism Network Singapore (ANS). We regularly read about the ANS improving awareness and understanding amongst wider communities in different fields of life, from schools, to workplaces, to social media. In a similar vein, awareness and understanding should be applied to the field of criminal law, including the types of comprehensive criminal law examples and explanations carried out each day by criminal lawyers who understand the law, and the clients they represent. This article aims to give an overview and oversimplification of criminal law with autism in mind. It also aims to provoke thought into how individuals with autism can benefit from awareness and knowledge of the law.

Criminal law is a complex and convoluted area of the law, dealing with issues of responsibility, accountability and conduct. These are all matters which might seem ill-equipped to provide any sweet relief or clarity for individuals with autism. Nevertheless, these very concepts can be explained in a simple manner, by breaking down legal language to provide clearer criminal law examples and explanations.

Criminal law can be helpful for individuals with autism to know themselves in order to self-advocate. With a clear understanding of what is prohibited and legal duties, individuals with autism are better equipped to stand up for themselves in legal matters and are less likely to be misled, manipulated, or taken advantage of by others.

An overview of criminal law examples and explanations is therefore a useful exercise in order to show individuals with autism how the law works, what it means, and how it can come up in different scenarios.

In order to understand the law, it must be accessible. Information must be broken down and explained in a manner that can easily be explained and understood by everyone, at all levels, whether they have an autism diagnosis or not. The information must be relevant and applicable to real life situations, for example in what might occur should an individual with autism end up being in a specific situation, such as being charged with committing a crime.

Lack of understanding of the law on its own is a huge barrier for individuals with autism. Together, with the societal barrier of having a preconception of how autism might affect an individual’s ability to understand the law, this can form a network of blockades in the form of community attitudes and biases.

I’m sure most people will be familiar with how complex and convoluted legal language can be in order to explain a simple matter of law. To assist individuals with autism in breaking these barriers, the use of simple explanations and easy-to-understand examples of the criminal law and criminal law applications is the key.

Community support plays a huge role within the legal field, and through working with other criminal lawyers, an individual lawyer can play their part too. Community support can look like this – being available for information sessions and teaching other parents common legal language and legal duties of responsibility, as well as their examples and application. Community support can also show up in meetings with other community organizations and advocacy groups who aim to promote legal knowledge and awareness.

These are just a few examples of how an understanding of criminal law and its application within society can help individuals with autism and their community. Whether you’re advocating for an individual with autism, your family member with autism, or supporting them in a professional role (or otherwise), it’s always helpful to have an understanding of the law in order to interact and communicate with others in a robust and confident manner.

It’s important to remember that an understanding of the law and how it works doesn’t interfere in how individuals with autism might view and understand the world around them. Instead, this can provide new lifelines, new ways of interacting, and new possibilities.

Whether you are studying law, working in the legal industry or just have an interest in the law, I recommend that you have a browse through the available articles online to help yourself understand some of the relevant legal duties and obligations that are set out within the criminal code.

You can find tomorrow’s solutions by viewing articles of legal duties and obligations and their examples and applications available here: criminal law examples and explanations.