POLICE APPROACHES AND AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER: CHALLENGES AND RIGHTS

Abstract

This article aimed to analyze the challenges and rights related to police approaches involving people with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Brazilian context, discussing the legal recognition of autistic individuals as persons with disabilities, the influence of standards of normality on the construction of suspicious behavior, and the impacts of repressive police action on neurodivergent individuals. The research is characterized as bibliographic, qualitative, and descriptive, developed through the analysis of 28 data sources, including scientific articles, books, legislation, institutional documents, and journalistic reports found in the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and Google Scholar databases. The results showed that behaviors commonly associated with ASD, such as lack of eye contact, selective mutism, delayed responses, and sensory hypersensitivity, may be mistakenly interpreted as resistance, disrespect, or suspicious behavior during police approaches. In addition, the study identified the absence of adequate technical training among many public security agents and significant institutional invisibility regarding autistic individuals subjected to police violence and the criminal justice system. It is concluded that strengthening public policies, humanized police training, and recognition of neurodivergent specificities are essential to guarantee the rights of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.