The Johnson County Sheriff's Office participates in the First Responder Awareness Program, sometimes also referred to as the "Blue Envelope Program". It's a nationwide initiative designed to support safer, more positive interactions between law enforcement and neurodivergent individuals.

What is the Blue Envelope for?

The Blue Envelope Program is designed to help individuals with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and other neurodivergent conditions communicate more effectively with law enforcement. These tools aim to reduce misunderstandings and promote calm, respectful interactions. The program provides:

Blue Envelope: to store copies of important documents in their vehicle like a driver’s license, registration, and a contact card with communication tips for officers.

Mental Health Card: to keep in their wallet. Includes their name, address, a reason they may need help, and contact info for their family members, guardians, friends, etc.

First Responder Awareness decal stickers are available for individuals to display at their residence. Placing the sticker on your residence will help first responders with the following:

• Individuals may display unpredictable/unexpected movement which may be misinterpreted as a threat.
• Individuals may display a lack of eye contact which may be misinterpreted as avoidance or non-engagement.
• A lack of verbal response to questions by first responders, which may be misinterpreted as noncompliance or defiance.
• Individuals may pull away from first responders, who might need to physically redirect someone in the performance of their duties, which may be misinterpreted as resistance or failing to comply.

Important Reminders

We believe this program will enhance our ability to serve all community members more effectively, but there are a few important points to keep in mind.