1. Same but different: reviewing our approach to offenders with ASD
Kathryn Bruderer and Sue Brotherston
NATIONAL PROBATION SERVICE NORTH WEST

2. WHO WE ARE
Our staff are based across 71 sites in the NW. The division contains:
16 Approved Premises hostels
16 Prisons or Young Offender Institutes
31 Magistrates and 8 Crown Courts

3. WHAT WE DO Rehabilitation & control of high/medium risk offenders
Advice to Magistrates and Crown Courts regarding sentencing
Enforcement of orders and licences – breach and recall
Accommodation for high risk cases via Approved Premises
Probation services in prison
Statutory Victim Services
Sex Offender Treatment
Multi agency work
Training all future Probation Officers

4. Why Offenders...and victims....
“One of the things with my Asperger syndrome is that I always do what other people tell me to. I also got involved in drugs because I got accepted by people and when they offered me a smoke, as long as I said yes, they were my friends.”
Person with Asperger syndrome,
Guide for Criminal Justice Agencies, NAS

5. Autism Accreditation Project

6. How - our workstreams Identification and monitoring Staff development
Partnerships and pathways
Communication and interventions
Environment
Service user engagement
National influence

7. Case study – ‘Joe’ Challenges: Attachment to offender manager
Misinterpretation of relaxation of reporting times
Lack of eye contact
Difficulty focussing on the offence, easily distracted by personal interests
Offences suggested sexuality was an issue but Joe’s views were outdated
Approach:
Not insisting on eye contact as a way of demonstrating interest
Allowing (limited) distractions
Challenging inappropriate views & sharing information about how it can be difficult to disclose sexuality
Exploring whether offence was focused on under-age victims or whether Joe had difficulties in assessing age
Clear communication – no ambiguous phrases; emphasising points which are made; repeating information and checking understanding
Appropriate environment
Patience!

8. Case Study ‘Carl’ Challenges:
Not dismissing his needs because he is ‘high functioning’
Easily distracted by lights/movement
Needs processing time, if interrupted will lose his train of thought
Poor eye contact/non verbal communication
Lack of victim empathy/remorse
Very literal and detailed in understanding of instructions
Difficulties with emotional questions or those requiring ‘general’ understanding of a situation
Obsessional interest and offending?
Understanding of ‘wrongness’ offence
Approach:
Careful planning of sessions and allowing sufficient time for appointments
Information given in written formats in line with learning/processing style
Instructions and especially restrictions worded in a precise but comprehensive way
One to one rather than group work sessions
Creative thinking
Monitor/modify own expectations
Develop rule bound strategies for risk management

9. Thank you for listening
Kathryn Bruderer
Susan Brotherston