Offending Behaviour in Adults with Asperger Syndrome

Abstract

Considerable speculation is evident both within the scientific literature and popular media regarding possible links between Asperger syndrome and offending. A survey methodology that utilised quantitative data collection was employed to investigate the prevalence of offending behaviour amongst adults with Asperger Syndrome in a large geographical area of South Wales, UK; qualitative interviews were then conducted with a sub-sample of those identified. A small number of participants meeting the study criteria were identified. For those who had offended, their experience of the criminal justice system was essentially negative. Possible implications of the results were discussed.

Asperger syndrome and criminal behaviour

“…This significantly exceeds the 0.36% prevalence estimated for the general population using the same criteria (Allen 2007). This overrepresentation of Asperger syndrome (at least 1.68%, n = 22) was subsequently confirmed in all three English high secure units (Hare 1999).…”

“…There is growing evidence that people with Asperger syndrome are more likely to commit fire-setting offences than people without the syndrome (Hare 1999;Siponmaa 2001;Mouridsen 2008). Both alcohol and drug misuse (SchwartzWatts 2005) and drug offences (Allen 2007) have been reported in this population, although substance use is comparatively rare (Murphy 2003;Woodbury-Smith 2006;Mouridsen 2008). Epidemiological studies indicate that people with Asperger syndrome do commit sexual offences (Hare 1999;Murphy 2003), but there is evidence that the rates of sexual offending in general (Hare 1999), and of child sex offences in particular (Elvish 2007), are lower among offenders with autism-spectrum disorders.…”

Eyewitness Testimony in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review

“…Once additional research has replicated and extended this work, it will be important to ensure that findings appropriately inform investigative practice. It has been reported that police officers often feel that they do not receive enough training on interviewing even typical witnesses (ACPO, 2004;Clarke & Milne, 2001;Dando et al, 2008), and a number of researchers have expressed concern that those working within the criminal justice system are ill-equipped to respond effectively to those with ASD (e.g., Allen et al, 2008;Bather, Fitzpatrick & Rutherford, 2008;Browning & Caulfield, 2011;Haskins & Silva, 2006;Mayes, 2003;Murrie, Warren, Kristiansson & Dietz, 2002). Browning and Caulfield (2011) argue that all of those involved in the criminal justice system -from policy makers, the police, intermediaries, the crown prosecution service, the judiciary to probationersneed to receive access to training or have access to trained colleagues who understand and can meet the needs of witnesses, victims or suspects with ASD.…”

“…Since findings from several lines of research suggest that people with ASD can also be responsible for committing criminal acts (see, e.g., Allen et al, 2008;Browning & Caulfield, 2011;Howlin, 1997;Woodbury-Smith et al, 2005;Woodbury-Smith, Clare, Holland & Kearns, 2006), future work is needed to explore how people with ASD who have actually perpetrated the act behave when asked to testify. For example, given the difficulties that people with ASD have in incorporating their concept of the self when recollecting episodic events (e.g., Crane & Goddard, 2008;Crane et al, 2009;Lind, 2010;Lind & Bowler, 2009a, 2010, they may struggle to recall such an event where they played an active causal role, particularly when combined with the increased interrogative pressure of being questioned as a suspect.…”

High functioning autism disorder: marital relationships and sexual offending

“…This fear is supported in the literature describing a possible relationship between ASD and sexual abuse 4,5 . Although few empirical studies have explored the theme (and those that have are occasionally described as methodologically flawed) 5,6 , some studies suggest a possible link between the marked inability to understand nonverbal language and instances of sexual abuse involving patients with ASD 7,8 .…”