Criminal Sexual Behavior of Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Recommendations for Correctional Professionals.

Continued uncertainty on overrepresentation of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the criminal justice system (CJS), although important, has shifted focus away from other questions of CJS treatment of neurodiverse individuals and left little guidance on best practice for people with ASD. For ASD individuals involved in sex offenses, there remains even less guidance. Because aspects of ASD symptomatology can highly influence sexual behaviors in ways that differ from neurotypical sex offending, it is imperative that clinicians and correctional professionals know more about this potential influence of ASD on sex offending behaviors. This knowledge should then inform efforts to enact more effective and equitable policies when interacting with the ASD population. This article reviews the connection between ASD symptoms and sexual behaviors as well as the lack of ASD-oriented sex education that could result in sex offending charges. A review of literature examining sex offending risk and its relation to ASD follows. Recommendations for more equitable treatment are discussed for different aspects of the correctional system, including forensic assessment, treatment efforts, and correctional staff interactions.

Child Maltreatment and Psychiatric Disorders Increase Risk for Stalking Victimization.

Stalking is a serious public health problem, estimated to affect about 15% of women and 6% of men. Victims of stalking have been reported to be at increased risk for psychological distress, depression, lowered social and daily functioning, and other forms of victimization. The present study sought to determine whether individuals with documented histories of childhood maltreatment and those with psychiatric disorders are at increased risk for stalking victimization. Participants included maltreated children and matched controls (N = 892) from a Midwestern, metropolitan area who were followed up into adulthood. Psychiatric disorders (major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and substance use disorders) were assessed at mean age 29 and borderline personality disorder at age 39. Participants reported lifetime stalking using the Lifetime Trauma and Victimization History instrument and based on a separate measure, past year intimate partner stalking victimization. Analyses controlled for sex, race, and age. Depression, PTSD, antisocial, and borderline personality disorders were associated with increased lifetime risk for stalking victimization. Childhood maltreatment, neglect, and psychiatric disorders (substance use, PTSD, antisocial personality, and borderline personality) predicted increased risk for past year stalking victimization. Findings indicated sex differences in lifetime risk of stalking victimization and race differences in past-year stalking victimization. Although the results reveal relationships among child maltreatment, psychiatric disorders, and stalking victimization, the impact of childhood maltreatment is most salient in terms of past year intimate partner stalking victimization, and particularly for individuals with histories of neglect. Future research is needed to better understand these race and sex differences in stalking victimization.

Diagnostic Differential Between Pedophilic-OCD and Pedophilic Disorder: An Illustration with Two Vignettes.

Despite the prevalence of atypical sexual thoughts in OCD presentations, research suggests that treatment providers often misclassify OCD with pedophilic obsessions (P-OCD) as pedophilic disorder. Such misdiagnoses can have adverse effects including inappropriate treatment, worsening of symptoms, and potential legal complications. Given these iatrogenic effects, clinicians must be competent in differentiating between these two conditions. To clarify the difficult differential between P-OCD and pedophilic disorder, the current paper provides readers with two vignettes that illustrate the differential process. These vignettes highlight important distinctions in symptom presentations and common pitfalls when assessing for P-OCD and pedophilic disorder. The first vignette describes a 32-year-old married woman who experienced pedophilic-themed intrusive thoughts, leading her to avoid children and certain interactions with her daughter. The second vignette describes a 42-year-old married man who experienced ego-dystonic attraction toward minors, particularly 8-10-year-old girls. Following these vignettes, treatment implications and forensic implications are discussed. Finally, recommendations for future clinical and empirical work are made.