ERIC Number: EJ1015024
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Sep
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1088-3576
EISSN: N/A
Identifying Individuals with Autism in a State Facility for Adolescents Adjudicated as Sexual Offenders: A Pilot Study
Sutton, Lawrence R.; Hughes, Tammy L.; Huang, Ann; Lehman, Cathryn; Paserba, David; Talkington, Vanessa; Taormina, Rochelle; Walters, Jessie B.; Fenclau, Eric; Marshall, Stephanie
Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, v28 n3 p175-183 Sep 2013
Using the criteria established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the assessment procedures for establishing an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a previously undiagnosed adjudicated group is detailed. We examined 37 male adolescents adjudicated delinquent for sexual offenses who were sentenced to treatment. Ultimately, 22 (60%) were found to meet the diagnostic criteria for an ASD. All had intelligence quotients in the average range. For the offenders with ASD, we recommend modifying traditional treatment protocols (i.e., relying on individual and group talk therapy) to match their learning styles (e.g., visual learning, modeling with practice, and feedback) and restricting contact with neurotypical sexual offenders to improve therapeutic outcomes. Deterrent programming aimed at bridging the gap between social deficits, Theory of Mind deficits, and sexual knowledge acquisition is discussed. (Contains 2 tables.)
Descriptors: Autism, Disability Identification, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Delinquency, Males, Adolescents, Crime, Sexual Abuse, Counseling Techniques, Cognitive Style, Interpersonal Communication, Theory of Mind, Sexuality, Knowledge Level, Institutionalized Persons, Correctional Institutions, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Clinical Diagnosis, Intelligence Quotient
SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Pennsylvania
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale; Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A