A selective review of offending behaviour in individuals with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

Claims that people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are overrepresented in offending populations and are more likely to commit crimes than others are explored in this review. Evidence to date makes these claims difficult to substantiate, although methodological difficulties make this area particularly challenging. ASD does not appear to account for a large number of crimes in society, though certain characteristics may render those on the spectrum vulnerable to offending. Comorbid psychiatric conditions such as depression and psychosis, when present in a person that additionally has ASD, are important risk factors. Once in the criminal justice system, people with ASD are often misunderstood and open to bullying. Very little is known about what treatment programmes are effective for offenders in this population. This review summarises some of the important studies in this field.

Citation

de la Cuesta, G. (2010), "A selective review of offending behaviour in individuals with autism spectrum disorders", Journal of Learning Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, Vol. 1 No. 2, pp. 47-58. https://doi.org/10.5042/jldob.2010.0419