Judiciary views on criminal behaviour and intention of offenders with high-functioning autism
Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour
ISSN: 2050-8824
Article publication date: 3 June 2014
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore how judges perceive High Functioning Autistic Spectrum Disorders (hfASDs) and the disorders’ effects on an offender's ability to formulate criminal intent and control behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews on topics related to offenders with hfASDs were conducted with 21 California Superior Court Judges. A coding scheme was developed and an iterative qualitative coding process was used for analysis.
Findings
Analysis yielded three major themes on how an hfASD diagnosis affects an offender's ability to regulate actions and criminal behaviour. Interviewed judges reported beliefs that hfASD offenders view the world in a different way and that much of their behaviour is not under their direct control. Judges reported these perceptions likely affect how they criminally process and make legal decisions regarding offenders with hfASDs.
Research limitations/implications
The sample size was small and therefore no statistical significance can be drawn from results; findings cannot be applied to perceptions or experiences of the entire California Superior Court Judge population.
Originality/value
Past academic research reports that individuals with hfASDs that offend often do so because of specific symptoms associated with the disorder. This presents a complex dilemma for the criminal justice system regarding how best to understand the disorder and process these offenders. This study and its findings aim to shed light on issues judges encounter in determining these offenders’ responsibility and sentencing, in what ways this information might be integrated into judicial decision making, and areas where future research is needed.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research was supported by the National Institute of Health grant P50 HG003389-09 (Center for Integration of Research on Genetics and Ethics). The author thanks Mildred Cho, the Grant PI, Nanibaa’ Garrison and Emily Borgelt.
Citation
M. Berryessa, C. (2014), "Judiciary views on criminal behaviour and intention of offenders with high-functioning autism", Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, Vol. 5 No. 2, pp. 97-106. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIDOB-02-2014-0002
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited