Understanding vulnerabilities and ‘pathways’ in the commission of sexual offences by autistic individuals: perspectives from UK-based practitioners

Abstract

Although autistic people are no more likely to perpetrate crime compared to the general population, evidence suggests that certain types of crime, such as sexual offences, are more common among autistic individuals who do engage in crime. In recent years, with the rapid increase in the commission of sexual offences in the United Kingdom (UK) and beyond, it has become increasingly critical to explore why some autistic individuals engage with sexual crime, in order to establish robust mechanisms for preventing initial offences as well as re-offending. Drawing on data collected through semi-structured interviews with 12 UK-based practitioners who work directly with autistic adults who have been charged and/or convicted of committing sexual offences in the UK, this article explores questions regarding why some autistic individuals engage in sexual offending, focusing on the various vulnerabilities of autistic individuals for committing sexual offences. The article explores potential ‘pathways’ to sexual offending, tracing the absence, from a young age, of provision of sex education to young autistic people, and the stifling of their abilities to practise healthy sexual relationships.

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