Influence of an Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis on Perceptions of Guilt and Accountability of a Sexual Offender

    Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is one of the most common and well-studied neurodevelopmental disorders. Over the years, ever-increasing prevalence rates have been recorded, increasing from 1 in 150 children in 2000 to 1 in 36 children in 2020 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). These increasing prevalence rates may have implications in how others perceive individuals with ASD.

     To date, there is limited research on individuals with ASD in the criminal justice system, with the available research consisting primarily of small sample sizes, including case studies, limiting the generalizability. Of particular interest are offenders with ASD who have been alleged to have committed a sexual offense and the perceptions others hold regarding their guilt and accountability relative to their diagnosis. 

  The purpose of the present study was to explore the influence of an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis on the perceptions of guilt and accountability of a sexual offender utilizing a vignette research design. A significant relationship between the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and perceptions of an offender’s guilt and accountability was hypothesized. 

   There was no significant difference found between diagnostic labels (e.g., ASD, major depressive disorder (MDD), no diagnostic label) and perceptions of guilt and accountability. However, more positive views of sexual offenders were found to be held toward the individuals in the ASD and MDD diagnostic labels, compared to no diagnostic label, suggesting an influence of diagnostic label on views of sexual offenders.