Autism Defense Attorneys | Special Needs Criminal Defense Lawyers
In Texas, adults and children with autism spectrum disorders, including what was formerly known as Asperger’s, and other special needs disabilities, can be at great risk for arrest and involvement with the Texas criminal justice system. Most often, teachers and police officers lack education and training to understand autism and other special needs. A witness or police officer might see certain behavior as intentionally aggressive or dangerous when it may actually be something that the individual cannot control.
Once someone initiates a police report, the Texas criminal prosecution system is put into motion and parents have little control. Police agencies forward case files to the District or County attorney who makes the decision whether to charge an individual with an offense. We have seen it many times in Texas; autistic individuals charged with a crime for behavior that was not criminal at all, but merely misunderstood. The District Attorney may still proceed with the charges, even when the victim (who is often a parent or family member) does not want to press charges.
Texas Criminal Defense Attorneys with First-Hand Knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorders
One of our attorneys is blessed with a child that has autism. As a result, our criminal defense firm has special, first-hand knowledge of how autism and other special needs disabilities can impact a young person. Further, we have had the opportunity to represent several individuals with autism that have been charged with assault offenses, sexual offenses, and more. We have a high success rate across the State of Texas in achieving dismissals on cases involving special needs defendants.
The consequences of a criminal charge or conviction can have a significant impact on a person’s future, in both the juvenile and adult criminal justice process. It is important to have an experienced attorney who understands both the Texas criminal justice system and how disabilities affect an individual’s behavior. In Texas, there are many options available to resolve a criminal case, including diversion programs. Our attorneys will work with your child to understand their disability and aggressively defend their rights against prosecutors and judges.
Free Consultation with a Special Needs Criminal Defense Attorney
If your child has autism, Asperger’s, or another special needs disability, and they have been charged with a crime or been named the subject of a criminal investigation, contact our Fort Worth criminal defense attorneys for a Free Consultation at (817) 993-9249. We have offices in Fort Worth, Keller, and Grapevine, but regularly represent criminal defense clients across the entire State of Texas.
