The Normal Police Department has partnered with Autism McLean to launch a program designed to reduce anxiety and confusion during interactions between autistic residents and police officers.
The department's new Blue Envelope Program is now part of the department's operations. The voluntary program is aimed at improving officer interactions — usually traffic stops — with people who have any sort of cognitive delays, communication differences or other neurodivergent conditions.
Residents can pick up a bright blue envelope at Life Center for Independent Living [Life-CIL] in Bloomington, the Normal Police Department, Normal Public Library, Normal Fire Department headquarters or Lifelong Access on Jacobssen Drive. Autism McLean also has envelopes available.
On the front of the envelope, participants can check a box indicating whether they are nonverbal or verbal. It also lists instructions for what to do during a traffic stop: watch for flashing lights, put the car in park and keep hands on the steering wheel.
Inside, drivers can store vehicle registration, an insurance card, a driver's license copy and an emergency contact for officers to call if needed. On the back of the envelope, officers get a reminder of its purpose along with their own guide, including notes such as "speak slowly and clearly" and "the driver may display repetitive body movements."
The envelope also comes with a sticker for a bumper, driver's side window or, for those who don't drive, a front door.
"So when an officer comes to that door, to that residence, they can see that envelope, and they can say, 'Hey, this is something that maybe I need to take a step back, I need to explain things maybe a little slower, explain things in a little different manner,'" said Normal Police Officer Brad Park, who steers community engagement for the department.
Park said Autism McLean was excited to partner with them. He said the envelopes are meant for anyone with communication difficulties, regardless of diagnosis.
"Whether it's autism, whether it's not autism, it doesn't really matter," Park said. "It's really for anybody."
Ahead of the curve
Research suggests autistic people are significantly more likely to experience contact with law enforcement officers than the general public. According to a 2019 study in the Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, this disproportionate contact can be attributed to atypical behaviors associated with autism and can lead to higher rates of arrest and involuntary psychiatric evaluations.
Normal Police Chief Steve Petrilli said officers statewide are being trained to communicate more effectively with neurodivergent people.
"We understand whether you're someone with special needs or just a citizen having an interaction with an officer, sometimes that creates anxiety on a lot of different levels," Petrilli said. "So we're aware of that, and we want to minimize that anxiety and provide a platform that we can communicate with people as to why we're there and what our intentions are from the onset."
Petrilli said he borrowed the idea from the Springfield Police Department after learning about it through the Chiefs of Larger Illinois Cities [CLIC].
"I really liked what the program offered as far as providing another avenue for communicating with citizens that may have some special needs in certain areas," Petrilli said. "The best ideas are taken from other agencies, right?"
Park said the program is still new to the Normal department, and 500 envelopes are ready for residents who opt in.
He said other departments have already started asking how to implement it themselves. NPD will conduct "roll-call" training with officers from other agencies to share tools for using the program effectively.
"We know that other agencies in McLean County and throughout the area are going to catch on very quickly," Park said. "We've already had a lot of them reach out to us saying, 'Hey, can you share with us your policy?'"
The Blue Envelope Program will become mandatory for Illinois police departments beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
