The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office is bringing the Blue Envelope Program to all 39 police departments in the county, writes Jim Melwert for KYW Newsradio.
The initiative is designed to make traffic stops and other police encounters less stressful for people who have autism or communication difficulties.
While several departments already use the program, the District Attorney’s Office partnered with the Bucks County Police Chiefs Association to expand its reach.
“Just a minor traffic stop can produce stress in anyone, and so in an individual who has a neurodiversity, they may struggle and they have some sensory issues at times, so it may be amplified,” said Bucks County DA Jennifer Schorn. “This blue envelope, when produced, if the individual is stopped by a member of law enforcement, will immediately notify law enforcement that the individual driver has a communication disability.”
The envelope features a written explanation on the outside for the officer and provides guidance for the driver about what to expect during an interaction, including the possibility of a flashlight being shone into the car.
Inside the envelope, the driver can include any important paperwork along with an explanation of their diagnosis or condition.
Read more about the Blue Envelope Program and how it will work across Bucks County at KYW Newsradio.
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