A review of the current measures used within the English courts for vulnerable individuals with autism spectrum disorder

Research has highlighted that individuals who are defined as vulnerable come into regular contact with the criminal justice system (Burton et al., 2006; King & Murphy, 2014). Certain vulnerabilities, such as mental disabilities, can impact how the individual is perceived within the criminal justice system (Wainwright & Mojtahedi, 2020). Moreover, these vulnerabilities could impact an individual's ability to participate fully in a trial, affecting their ability to give evidence; therefore, the use of special adaptations or measures within the criminal justice system is imperative to reduce the levels of stress experienced by a witness, while preserving the quality of the evidence they can give (Lindsey, 2019). Therefore, there must be adaptations put in place in order to facilitate a trial.