Abstract
This chapter presents findings from a service evaluation of how prisons in the Midlands area of England are meeting the needs of autistic people and individuals with learning disabilities. Drawing on qualitative data from people detained in prison and prison staff, the chapter reinterprets these findings through the lens of Carl Rogers' (1967) person-centred care framework and the three core conditions of unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence. While challenges in supporting neurodivergent individuals in prison have been documented for nearly a century, this chapter offers a novel contribution by applying a humanistic psychological model to reframe these persistent issues. It argues that a renewed commitment to relational care which is grounded in Rogers' principles and decoupled from diagnostic labels, can foster more equitable, humane, and effective support. The chapter highlights how relational dynamics, environmental factors, and systemic barriers intersect to shape care experiences, and proposes a neuroaffirmative, strengths-based model of support. This approach not only addresses the needs of neurodivergent individuals but also offers a framework for improving care in prison more broadly.