Atlantic County law enforcement leaders are coming together to help drivers on the autism spectrum.
Prosecutor William Reynolds and the Atlantic County Association of Chiefs of Police announced a collaboration on the Blue Envelope Program, which provides drivers with Autism Spectrum Disorder with documentation and education about what to do during a motor vehicle stop.
The program also helps police identify those with ASD and guides officers on how to interact with those individuals.
The program was created to enhance communication between the police officer and a driver with ASD.
The Blue Envelope itself is a resealable and convenient place to keep all driver documents including driver’s license, vehicle registration, insurance card and family/emergency contact card. The person with ASD will hand the Blue Envelope to the officer upon a motor vehicle encounter.
The envelope contains clear instructions for both the person with autism as well as the police officer to follow in order to foster better communication between them. There is also emergency contact information contained within the Blue Envelope if officers need further assistance.
“In 2023, Atlantic County chiefs began this initiative with a goal of bridging the gap in communication and building empathy in the community for individuals with ASD," said Hammonton Police Chief Kevin Friel, president of the Atlantic County Association of Chiefs of Police. "Now with the prosecutor’s collaboration on the Blue Envelope Program and the upcoming replacement of the Special Need Registry with the National Public Safety Alliance for Individuals with Disabilities program, it will ensure Atlantic County Law Enforcement is doing everything possible to ensure fair and equitable treatment to our citizens.“
Caregivers for individuals on the Autism Spectrum can pick up a Blue Envelope at their local police department.
The envelopes will be available at all police departments in Atlantic County and at the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office in Mays Landing.
For additional questions, contact Lt. Bill Adamson at the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.
