Yesterday I was able to visit Drew for the first time in three weeks. It was wonderful to hug him and feed him. The vending machine sandwiches were a welcomed treat. A few people have asked the same question so we’ve decided to address it. “Does Decriminalize Autism mean that Drew should not be held responsible for a crime because he has autism?” NO. We are saying that Drew was prosecuted and convicted because there was no consideration given to the communication style of someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The judge looked past the considerable reasonable doubt. He decided to convict based on the relative credibility of Drew and the woman. He found the woman’s demeanor and testimony to be more convincing, more credible. At the beginning of trial the prosecutor argued for Drew’s autism diagnosis to only be considered at sentencing. She appeared to want the cart before the horse and for the court to wear blinders where autism is concerned. The judge said he would consider the autism and he gave blind and deaf man analogies. Yet, the court never took Drew’s autism into consideration. Likewise, the judge ignored the woman’s BDSM submissive interests and swept that under the courtroom carpet as well. He said the woman didn’t appear like she wanted to be there in the courtroom, she didn’t “gild the lily” or engage in hyperbole. The judge went on to cite behaviors common with those on the autism spectrum as reasons for finding Drew guilty. He did NOT ask for clarification of the behaviors before deciding to change a young man’s life forever. It’s akin to referencing a blind man’s cane as a weapon rather than asking why he was carrying it. He could have asked Drew’s therapist to explain what he meant by Drew can fake well. He didn’t. He could have asked Drew for clarification regarding some of the issues he had with Drew’s testimony style. He didn’t. He could have asked an autism expert if it’s common for those with ASD to repeat themselves. He didn’t. And, he could have asked for a better understanding of BDSM submissive activity. He didn’t. By “Decriminalize Autism” we are saying that to find a person with autism guilty a judge or jury must understand the behaviors typical of autism spectrum disorder. These should NEVER be misinterpreted as indicators of guilt, and then used to convict. If you want to read from the trial and other court transcripts I invite you to read my blog at savedrew.com. When the gavel struck with a guilty verdict our hearts sank in disbelief. You could hear a pin drop in the courtroom. There are no words to express the pain of injustice. One morning our son woke up excited about his day. He was led down a path that resulted in a 50-year sentence. He sits in a cell hoping for this nightmare to end soon. Please keep sharing. Signatures and comments will continue to be sent to the governor. Thank you all again for your support, Jude and John Harrison