Brian Shrader: How Autism is Misunderstood in the Legal System

Send us Fan Mail Send us a text Brian Shrader, a criminal defense attorney with experience as both prosecutor and defender, exposes how the justice system profoundly fails people with autism and mental health conditions. • Autism often leads to escalation during police encounters rather than directly causing criminal behavior • Mental health training is virtually non-existent for lawyers, judges and prosecutors • The system lacks procedures and resources for addressing mental health issues beyond addiction • Mental health diversion programs have extensive waitlists while jails provide no treatment • First responders frequently misinterpret autism behaviors as drug-related symptoms • Public defenders and prosecutors are overwhelmed with caseloads, making individual attention impossible • Addressing these issues requires federal and state-level policy changes • Many legal professionals care but lack the tools and training to help effectively Tell everyone everywhere about Why Not Me The World, the conversations we're having and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.