SPRINGFIELD — People with disabilities will soon be protected from unnecessarily hostile encounters with police thanks to an initiative spearheaded by State Senator Natalie Toro that takes effect Jan. 1.

“Law enforcement have the responsibility to be educated about the community that they serve—including the unique communication methods of people with autism,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “This law will ensure they are up to date with training on how to best engage with people with disabilities, in turn preventing tragic misunderstandings.”

Without proper training on how some people with autism communicate, some members of law enforcement have interpreted their behavior as being noncompliant with questioning or instructions. This has caused several interactions between law enforcement and individuals with autism to escalate quickly, resulting in unnecessary use of force, trauma or death.

Senate Bill 3201 will now require law enforcement to go through training on autism-informed responses, as well as best procedures and techniques when engaging with individuals with autism. All law enforcement officers and correction officers will have to complete this training every three years.  

This mandate is especially important because people with disabilities are seven times more likely to have an encounter with law enforcement than people without disabilities according to experts.

“As the aunt of a young child with autism, I know firsthand that family members of people with disabilities are often anxious about a child’s future interactions with law enforcement, and how a small miscommunication can escalate into a tragedy,” said Toro. “This law will foster greater understanding between police officers and members of the people they serve, and provide people with autism and their loved ones with more peace of mind about their encounters with police.”

Senate Bill 3201 takes effect Jan. 1.