Risk assessment of offenders with an autism spectrum disorder
| Published date | 01 January 2013 |
| Date | 01 January 2013 |
| Pages | 33-41 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JIDOB-02-2013-0004 |
| Author | David Murphy |
| Subject Matter | Education,Health & social care,Sociology |
Risk assessment of offenders with an
autism spectrum disorder
David Murphy
David Murphy is a Chartered
Forensic & Consultant Clinical
Neuropsychologist in the
Neuroscience Department,
Broadmoor Hospital,
Crowthorne, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – Integral to the process of formulating and managing the difficulties of mentally disordered
offenders is the assessment of risk. However, the opinionheld by many clinicians who work with offenders
with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is that most conventional risk assessment tools fail to capture the
underlying reasons why such individuals may offend. This needs to be explored.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a screening study of the HCR 20 risk assessment
tool and some other characteristics of ‘high risk’ individuals with an ASD. Also presented is a brief literature
review supported by clinical experience of the assessment of psychopathy in ASD and highlighting potential
key factors to be included in a risk assessment of offenders with an ASD.
Findings – It was found that nine out of the 20 risk items contained in the HCR20 are present in 50 per cent
or less of the sample. Whilst some conventional risk factors are present, clinical experience and the literature
suggests that it is the specific difficulties associated with having an ASD that contribute towards an
individual’s vulnerability to offend.
Originality/value – Although further examination is required, provisional findings from this small screening
study of the HCR 20 profiles of high risk individuals with an ASD questions the usefulness of some
conventional risk factors in understanding the difficulties within this population. It is proposed that there is a
need for good practise guidelines for assessing risk in individuals with an ASD.
Keywords Intellectual disabilities, Violence, Risk assessment, Autism spectrum disorders
Paper type Conceptual paper
What is a risk assessment?
Risk management, namely the process of minimising an individual’s potential for offending,
is a central part of the care of mentally disordered offenders. Integral to this process is the
assessment and formulation of risk. Within mental health care risk of violence to others attracts
considerable concern. Violence has been defined as the actual, attempted or threatened
physical or psychological harm of another person that is deliberate and non-consensual
(Webster et al., 1997a). Risk refers to a hazard that is incompletely understood and whose
occurrence can only be forecast with uncertainty. Risk is also multi-faceted in nature,including
the specific behaviour, frequency and seriousness, as well as being influenced by the specific
circumstances of an individual, their motivation and previous experiences. A risk assessment
is therefore the process of evaluating an individual’s risk of a specific behaviour leading to
a formulation and interventions to reduce that behaviour. Whilst actual behaviours such as type
of violence are important, the emphasis of a risk assessment should be placed on developing
a formulation of why they chose to act violently, as well as identify the past and present factors
that may have influenced that decision (Hart, 2001). A risk assessment should therefore make
evidence based, informed, comprehensive and transparent decisions to guide an individual’s
risk management.
As a bench mark for best practise for managing risk, a series of guidelines is provided by the
Department of Health (2007). Of the 16 points highlighted, the first is that best practise involves
DOI 10.1108/JIDOB-02-2013-0004 VOL. 4 NO. 1/2 2013, pp. 33-41, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8824
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JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND OFFENDING BEHAVIOUR
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