Ms Juliet Macleod1, Mr Harry D'Onghia, Doctor Neophytos Georgiou, Professor Robyn Young
1Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
Biography:
Juliet Macleod (she/her) is a Research Assistant and Psychology Honours student from Flinders University. She is currently working with the Flinders Autism Research Initiative (FARI) to develop targeted Autism training and police interview frameworks to better support interactions between Autistic people and police officers. Juliet recently presented to the FARI on her research identifying key gaps in the South Australian Police Academy Autism training. She intends to develop this research further with the support of FARI in 2027.
Abstract:
Autistic people frequently experience communication, sensory, and processing differences that can significantly affect participation in investigative and legal procedures. These differences impact autistic people’s understanding of information, recall and expression, influencing how police, lawyers, psychologists, and the courts interpret their behaviour. Yet Australia currently lacks a standardised, evidence based framework to guide professionals in adapting interviews for autistic individuals, risking unreliable evidence and misinterpretation, and compromising procedural fairness.
The Flinders Autism Research Initiative developed the Best Practice Guide for Interviewing Autistic People, outlining evidence based strategies to improve communication accuracy, reduce distress, and strengthen the integrity of investigative outcomes: (1) Tailoring interview environments to minimise sensory overload and communication barriers; (2) Establishing rapport through structured discussion of special interests; (3) Providing clear explanation of the interview’s purpose, structure, and expectations; (4) Using direct, concrete language, avoiding figurative or ambiguous phrasing; (5) Employing visual–verbal prompting to support comprehension and recall; (6) Assessing capacity, regardless of chronological age, to ensure developmental capacity and understanding is properly evaluated.
This framework enhances the reliability of interview records, reduces involuntary or misunderstood responses, and supports defensible investigative practice. It offers a structured lens for interpreting autistic communication, shutdowns, literal language use, atypical affect, and other behaviours that may otherwise be misread in investigative or courtroom settings.
By embedding these strategies into routine practice, police officers can obtain clearer, more reliable information, reducing the likelihood of miscarriages of justice, and ensuring autistic individuals are questioned, understood, and represented in ways that uphold fairness and legal integrity.