Hudson County Program Addresses Police Encounters With People On Autism Spectrum

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — Children on the autism spectrum have been shot by law enforcement officers who didn't understand their disorder.

Recently, a 17-year-old boy with autism and cerebral palsy was fatally shot by police in Idaho when they responded to a call. And in 2000, a 13-year-old Utah boy with autism was shot in a similar situation.

A new program in Hudson County called "Blue Envelope" hopes to make police aware that they may be responding to a person with autism or another sensory disorder.

The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, in coordination with the Hudson County Department of Health and Human Services, launched the program "with the goal of creating safer and more positive interactions between law enforcement and individuals with autism and other communication disorders," the Prosecutor's Office announced last month.

Through the program, individuals are provided with a blue envelope to store personal identification to give to an officer during a law enforcement encounter, whether it be a traffic stop or a pedestrian in need of emergency assistance.

The envelope provides law enforcement with immediate information about sensory disorders to reduce the likelihood of miscommunication.

“One of our goals in law enforcement is to identify ways we can better support the needs of our residents,” said outgoing Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez. “Nationwide, the Blue Envelope program has proven to be a valuable tool when communicating with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder."

Hudson County’s Blue Envelope program was coordinated by Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Sgt. Megan Connell and Hudson County Mental Health Administrator Kayla Hanley. Representatives from all Hudson County police departments were invited to participate in a training led by the North Jersey based nonprofit Baker Street Cares.

The training provided strategies and communications examples for officers to use when in touch with individuals with sensory difficulties, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, non-verbal/communications disabilities, age-related issues, and more.

People interested in obtaining a Blue Envelope are encouraged to contact their municipal police department for more information about how to participate.