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Autism and child sexual abuse offending
Fri, September 8, 1:30 to 2:45pm, Educatorio Fuligno, Floor: ground floor / cloister entrance, Fuligno 6Abstract
This research presentation will draw on findings from a qualitative study on the subject of autism and child sexual abuse offending. This is a collaborative project between researchers at the Policing Institute for the Eastern Region (PIER) at Anglia Ruskin University, University of Salford, University of Derby, and an independent research expert/consultant. The presentation will focus on key findings relating to how features of autism can provide the vulnerability to engage in child sexual abuse offending, as well as other crimes; and mechanisms for strengthening support for persons with autism, and for criminal justice professionals and other practitioners who engage with autistic people.
The qualitative data, collected through ten semi-structured interviews with practitioners in England and Wales who regularly engage with autistic people, provides unique insights into the vulnerabilities that may lead autistic people to engage in offending. These include, inter alia, self-interest; searching for patterns and order; obsession to learn and master certain subject matter; collecting behaviours; naivety; and ‘literal understanding’. The interviews also show that education systems, families, and others may serve to exacerbate vulnerabilities, through the failure to provide autistic children with support at critical points in their development. Further, the study identifies that while some positive practices are emerging, overall, criminal justice practitioners lack training and guidance on how to deal with autistic people. This research provides an important evidence base to inform future policy and practice, particularly in the areas of preventing offending by persons with autism, and increasing the capacity of criminal justice professionals in working with offenders with autism.