Alabama Legislation on Police Training

In The Politics of Autism, I discuss interactions between police and autistic people.  When cops encounter autistic people they may not respond in the same way as NT people, and things can get out of hand. Among other things, they may misinterpret autistic behavior as aggressive or defiant, and respond with tasers, batons, chokeholds, or worse.

Courtney Chandler at WIAT-TV Birmingham, Alabama:

A new bill by an Alabama state lawmaker will help police officers better respond to people who have disabilities.

Rep. Leigh Hulsey from Helena said HB356 will provide training for officers on how to deal with individuals who have sensory needs or invisible disabilities. HB356, also known as the Noah Cade Act, will provide officers with one hour of mandatory training every other year.

The bill is special to Hulsey because it’s her first piece of legislation she has introduced in the state house, and it’s named after her son who has autism.

Bill synopsis:

Under existing law, a law enforcement officer must successfully complete 12 hours of continuing education training approved by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission. This bill would require the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission to collaborate with a nonprofit company to provide annual training about interacting with individuals with sensory needs or invisible disabilities. 

 Relating to law enforcement training; to require each law enforcement officer to undergo annual training related to individuals with certain sensory needs or invisible disabilities; and to provide that the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission shall collaborate with a nonprofit company to provide the training.