Lords Committee: Autism and criminal and youth justice systems

On Monday June 16, the House of Lords Autism Act 2009 Committee will be holding two evidence sessions as part of its inquiry into the Act. 

During the first session the committee will discuss support for autistic people who are in contact with the criminal and youth justice systems. 

The second session will be with the chair of the APPG on autism.  

Giving evidence at 15:15 will be: 

• Dr Katie Maras – Reader in Psychology, University of Bath  

• Dr Alexandra Lewis – Consultant psychiatrist, Cambridge & Peterborough Foundation NHS Trust 

• Martin Jones CBE – HM Chief Inspector of Probation  

• John Nelson – Chair, National Police Autism Association  

Questions the committee is likely to ask include: 

• What is the key evidence on the numbers of autistic people who come into contact with the criminal and youth justice systems, their demographic characteristics, and the support they need? 

• Who is responsible and accountable for supporting autistic people in the criminal and youth justice systems? 

• To what extent do the criminal and youth justice systems provide autistic people with the support they need? 

• What pathways are there for preventing autistic people from becoming involved with the criminal and youth justice systems and for diverting them out of those systems? 

Giving evidence at 17:30 will be: 

• Dr Marie Tidball MP – Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Autism; and Author, ‘Disabling Criminal Justice: the Governance of Autistic Adult Defendants in the English Criminal Justice System'  

 Questions the committee is likely to ask include:

• What is the role and importance of the Autism Act 2009? Why has the Act been effective or not effective? 

• What are the key opportunities and risks for autistic people at present and in the coming years? 

• What are the key issues for autistic people that MPs see in their constituency work? To what extent do autistic people and their families/carers have access to the support they need and to redress when problems arise? 

• What would be the best ways to improve accountability in terms of support for autistic people and for disabled people more broadly? 

The sessions will take place on Monday 16 June and can be followed live on parliamentlive.tv