Correlates of Police Involvement Among Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Tint et al. (2017) looked at 284 teens and adults with autism. They asked parents if police had ever come to the house, stopped their child on the street, or made an arrest.

They also asked about age, past aggression, where the person lived, and how stressed parents felt.

One in six people with autism had met police, almost always because of hitting, kicking, or breaking things.

Older youth, those with a history of aggression, and those living outside the family home were the most likely to be involved.

Diemer et al. (2023) followed the same group for ten years. They found aggression starts high but fades for most; only the kids who stay very hyper or impulsive keep the behavior.

Tsakanikos et al. (2007) showed that when adults with autism hit or break items, doctors quickly give antipsychotics and hospital beds. Tint et al. (2017) now show police can be the next stop.

Andrews et al. (2024) looks like a contradiction: half of teens on a psych ward screen high for autism traits, yet only 16% of autistic youth meet police. The gap is about setting—hospital teens are in crisis, while Ami’s group lives in the community.

If you serve teens or adults with autism, flag the older clients who have already shown aggression and who live in group homes or supported living. Add safety plans, teach de-escalation, and loop in local police before a call is made. Treat sleep issues and hyperactivity early; Hatzell et al. (2026) show poor sleep raises aggression odds by half.