If you were arrested would you tell booking that you have AS

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That was the choice of wording from the UK National Autistic Society: "The holder of this card has autism (which includes Asperger syndrome)", and I think it would be effective. The advice on the card seems very sound: http://www.autism.org.uk/en-gb/Living-w ... Welsh.aspx



The latest I read on Gary McKinnon is that the new UK government wants to review his medical records and decide whether there are humanitarian grounds (i.e. obsessional behaviour due to his Asperger's) to reject the US extradition request: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8694210.stm - so actually, I think I was wrong to say that AS could not be a useful defence.

ASDs have been effectively used as a defense*, whether exonerating the individual or modifying the sentence (i.e., a mental health "jail" would be more suited for the individual with an ASD that did something due to such).

Martin Bryant is in a mental health jail due to a diagnosis of AS. He's away from the public for life due to his crimes, of course, but he's in a place that's suited to him, rather than a basic maximum security prison.

*You'd need to show why it is. For example, the individual with AS who "steals" a train because he wants to be a conductor and it's his obsession, and goes about it in that way and doesn't intend to harm anyone (and doesn't), would receive a much different sentence than a political terrorist who hijacked one and planned on derailing it and killing as many people as he or she could.

^^
Looks like the AS really is serving as a delay tactic then. I expect his counsel was aware that Labour were soon likely to be replaced by somebody who had publicly condemned the extradition.

That looks like quite a good card. Another page there warns the police to be careful in cases of suspected aiding and abetting - that's one area in which I can easily see how an Aspie could get into undeserved trouble. And the cops over here do seem keen on pursuing suspected accomplices.......just stand next to a criminal and you may well find they're trying to tar you with the same brush.

I use to get into a lot fights in my youth. I also sometimes get pulled over by police because I stagger when I walk and they think I am on something or drunk because of it.

no thats non of their business

While I never expect to get arrested, I have wondered about this in the context of field sobriety tests. I don't make a habit of driving drunk, but it would be concievable that I would be pulled over after having one or two drinks (legal where I live). Many of the field sobriety tests involve motor coordination, such as "close your eyes and touch your nose" (I can't even do this with my eyes OPEN), walk toe-to-heel on the white line (I can barely do this and tip over instantly if I close my eyes or am distracted).

I have considered telling police that I have a neurological condition that affects my motor coordination, and that such tests are actually used by some psychiatrists to screen for it (at least I had to do these things). However, I could imagine a power-tripping police officer who would take the above comment as pugnacious and things could get much worse.

Any advice as per the field sobriety scenario?

I've been arrested dozens of times, but never knew my diagnoses. If I were arrested again I'd probably tell them about the bipolar, since I'd definitely need my meds, but not sure I'd complicate things by telling them about the autism.

I've been kicked out of bars because of this. I get cut off after only one drink because I'm stumbling, then get kicked out when I protest.

This is a mixed issue. If you have the presence of mind to refuse to answer any questions until you have an attorney present representing you, you don't have to tell them anything.

If you have pronounced issues with AS, you should probably say nothing more than that you are autistic.

Considering that the only reason I can think of that I'd be arrested in the first place, is that I'm on the Spectrum, yes I'd tell! Police and judges are 100% convinced that Aspies are "guilty of something", so at least give them credit by letting them find an explanation for their suspicion.

Charles

No. It wouldn't make the cops more sympathetic to your plight, and in fact could be used to incriminate you. The best thing to do is just to shut up and wait for your lawyer to come along.

I wouldn't. When I was arrested for being under age and drunk in public at 18, it was mentioned that I had Bipolar disorder. This was after the a-hole cop went through my backpack and read my journal out loud to a room full of people. He laughed and said it was just an excuse for breaking the law.

No. My friend called the cops because I was trying to kill myself.

Honestly guys, I can't say it would really make a difference. When you are booked in you are asked a lot of questions related to mental health and well being, but most those questions really focus on whether or not you might harm yourself.

Over the past few years I've arrested several people who I was pretty certain had AS and it didn't really factor into any of my decisions, nor would the AS have affected how they were treated in the jail one way or the other, had the correctional officers even known.

I've been pulled over before for speeding and sometimes the officer asks me why i'm nervous. Obviously they think it might be because I have something to hide. I just tell I have a diagnosed neurological disorder known as NVLD and that this disorder has similiarities to Asperger's syndrome. I tell them that like Asperger's, social deficits are common with this disorder and that I get very nervous in situations which require social interaction.


Believe it or not.....this has always worked and it seems to alleviate their suspicions. I'm very polite with the police when I get pulled over and I do everything they ask me to do. I don't lie to them when they ask me why I think they pulled me over. I just tell them I know I was speeding and don't offer any excuses for it. I keep both hands on the steering wheel to put them at ease (cops don't like it when your hands aren't visible at all times, for obvious reasons) and I immediately turn on my domelight if it's dark.


All of this seems to work in my favor, because nine times out of ten, they don't even write me a ticket and just let me off with a warning. Most cops are fairly decent and as long as you treat them with respect and put them at ease, they'll do the same to you in return.


If you know you're guilty of a traffic violation, best thing to do is admit it and don't offer any excuses for it. Cops have heard every excuse in the book and they're not stupid.

In any case....cops really don't pull too many people over around here for minor traffic violations. There's alot of drugs, drunk driving and crime in general even in the wealthiest areas of South Florida. The police have their hands full around here with more serious offenses.

I wouldn't, because chances are it would be irrelevant.

I don't think it'll make a difference.