ABSTRACT
There have been a number of empirical studies which have found no evidence that individuals with ASD are more at risk of being violent. Studies have even found that they may even be less likely to be perpetrators of violent crime. However, it is important that in the small group of individuals with ASD who do engage in violent offending, the particular features of ASD which may have contributed to or provided the context of vulnerability to them engaging in their violent offending are examined closely. In this chapter, we will review the research which has explored the association between ASD and violent behaviour or offending. Ten case studies involving individuals with ASD who have engaged in violent offending from the literature will also be covered in this chapter. Each of the cases will help contextualise some of the features of ASD which may contribute to or provide the context of vulnerability to engaging in violent behaviour/offending which were identified in the research.
