Offending profiles of individuals with autism spectrum disorder: A study of all individuals with autism spectrum disorder examined by the forensic psychiatric service in Norway between 2000 and 2010

Abstract

This study examined the characteristics of adults with autism spectrum disorder who have undergone a forensic examination and explored any relationships between the diagnosis and the offence. The reports described 41 men and 7 women. The autism spectrum disorder was diagnosed late (mean age: 25.3 years), and 22 of the 48 cases were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder for the first time by the forensic experts. The education level and employment status were low. Family networks were close, but social networks outside the family were limited. Co-morbid diagnoses were common, and more than half of the group knew their victims. The examined individuals constitute a vulnerable and heterogeneous group, as do offenders within other diagnostic categories. Unlike most others who commit criminal acts, the majority of the individuals with autism spectrum disorder in this study showed no evidence of substance abuse, had a close relationship to their victims and were willing to confess to the accused crime. No clear association between the characteristics of autism spectrum disorder and the criminal act were identified, but in most cases, autism spectrum disorder characteristics, such as idiosyncratic comprehensions and obsessions appeared to be related to the motive for the offence.

Personal experiences of the Criminal Justice System by individuals with autism spectrum disorders

“…In line with previous reports (Allen et al, 2008;Browning and Caulfield, 2011;Helverschou et al, 2015) the interviewed individuals in the present study reported various and many negative experiences with the criminal justice system (CJS). However, all six participants who had experienced custodial sentences coped well in prison.…”

“…However, most evidence suggests that individuals with ASD are less likely to offend than their peers of the same age and gender (Bjørkly, 2009;Cashin and Newman, 2009;King and Murphy, 2014). And yet, relatively little is known about the circumstances of offending in this group (Helverschou et al, 2015).…”

“…This was a follow-up of a previous study (Helverschou et al, 2015). Participants were recruited from a study of all offenders (n=48) with a diagnosis of ASD who had undergone a forensic psychiatric examination in Norway, between 2000 and 2010, because of the seriousness or unusual nature of their crime.…”

“…Eight of the participants had previously been examined by psychiatric forensic experts (Helverschou et al, 2015) who, at the time of that examination, had also rated individuals' motives and explanations for the crime. The principal reasons identified in the psychiatric reports were: social misunderstandings, idiosyncratic rationalisations/explanations, obsessions and/or special interests, social naiveté, and revenge.…”

“…There is limited understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) within the field of forensic psychiatry (Freckelton and List, 2009;Helverschou et al, 2015) and contact with the Criminal Justice System (CJS) are assumed to be extremely difficult for individuals with ASD (Allen et al, 2008;Underwood et al, 2013). Abnormalities in social interaction, communication and imagination (WHO, ICD-10; APA, DSM 5) that characterise individuals with ASD may increase their vulnerability for becoming both a victim of crime and an offender.…”