DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office on Friday announced the expansion of the Blue Envelope Program, an effort aimed at making traffic stops and other police encounters less stressful for people with autism or other communication challenges.
Bucks County DA Jen Schorn said some departments across the county have already been using the blue envelopes, but her office worked with the Bucks County Police Chiefs Association to bring them to all 39 police departments throughout the county.
“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,” she explained.
“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.”
On the outside, the envelope has an explanation for the officer and also tells the driver what to expect — for example, that a flashlight may be shined into the car. Inside the envelope, the person can include all the necessary paperwork along with an explanation of their diagnosis or condition.
Middletown Police Chief Joe Bartorilla said it’s helpful for law enforcement.
“The blue envelope kind of takes the place of what would be verbal back and forth between someone on the spectrum who might not be able to communicate that effectively to an officer,” he said. “It builds trust, promotes safety, and strengthens the bond between our officers and the community we serve.”
The Blue Envelope Program is voluntary and available at no cost to all police departments throughout Bucks County.
Montgomery County implemented the program county-wide in 2023. Schorn said there are efforts to expand it and similar programs across Pennsylvania.