asd & criminal law...mitigating criminal consequences ! diversion & pretrial probation !...
TRANSCRIPT
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ASD & Criminal Law
What You Need to Know
Peter A. Hahn, Esq. AANE Conference
November 2019
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Two Paradigms: Clinical & Criminal
! Clinical ! A medical model that allows for shades of gray ! The diagnosis: Autism Spectrum Disorder
! Criminal ! A legal model that prefers two options for each issue
(i.e. guilty/innocent; competent/incompetent) ! The criminal justice system is generally unaware
of ASD and therefore ill-equipped to generate appropriate consequences for ASD-related conduct
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Typical ASD Behaviors
! Impulsivity ! Social immaturity ! Obsessive interests or preoccupation ! Misunderstanding social cues and rules ! Lack of concern for outcome of actions ! Lack of empathy ! Anxiety/panic
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Typical Criminal Cases
! Harassment ! Stalking ! Threats ! Assault and battery ! Domestic violence ! Sexual misconduct ! Vandalism
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Entry into Court for Criminal Charges
! Arrest by police or court notice to appear ! Police file Application for Criminal
Complaint ! Clerk’s Hearing
! For non-arrest misdemeanors with some exceptions
! Preliminary determination by clerk magistrate at an informal hearing to decide whether there is probable cause to issue the criminal complaint
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Entry into Court for Criminal Charges
! Arraignment ! Where there is an arrest, felony, or issuance
of complaint after a clerk’s hearing ! Formal reading of the charge(s) in court by a
judge ! The point at which an entry goes on a
person’s criminal record (CORI) ! Judge may set bail, conditions of release, or
consider a detention order without bail
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Mitigating Criminal Consequences
! Diversion & Pretrial probation ! Ways to dismiss a case without a plea or formal finding of
guilt ! Probation
! Complete a period of supervision by the court to avoid being sentenced
! Conditions of probation ordered by the judge and supervised by probation officer
! Educate judges, DAs, and probation officers
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Legal Defenses
! Lack of criminal responsibility & competence to stand trial ! Traditional avenues for mental health considerations ! Criminal responsibility
! Ability to conform actions in accordance with an understanding of the law ! Competency
! Ability to understand the court process ! Ability to communicate with lawyer
! Clients with ASD do not usually fall into these categories ! Mental impairment short of insanity
! Committing a criminal act usually requires proof of mens rea, or mental state (intention/purpose, knowledge, recklessness, negligence)
! ASD may impact mental state
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Avoiding Entry into the System
! Educating the police in advance ! Arrange a meeting ! Training
! Call for hospitalization / mental health concern
! Inform 911/dispatch/officer ! Educating ASD client how to interact with
police
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Restraining Orders/HPOs
! ROs: against a family or household member where actual or attempted physical or sexual abuse
! HPOs: between any two people; three or more instances of harassing conduct; sexual assault; stalking
! Emergency (temporary) v. permanent ! Emergency: 10 days – judge may only hear complaining
party ! Permanent: 1 year – judge must hear both parties
! Typical conditions in AS cases ! Stay away from a person or place ! No contact or abuse or person
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Issues
! Those with ASD have all the same legal rights and responsibilities as those who do not
! Expert clinical support for legal arguments ! When sharing information about ASD is a
benefit or risk ! Clinical services as probation conditions
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Thank you!
Peter A. Hahn, Esq. 55 Chapel Street, Suite 301
Newton, Massachusetts 02458 617-413-3973