Can Autism Symptoms Contribute to Child Pornography Offending?

Last Updated on September 24th, 2026 at 08:43 pm
Originally Published on April 29th, 2022 at 08:00 am

Overview

Hyperfocus, compulsivity, and the effects of incarceration on offenders with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Summary

Anecdotally, in practice, we are seeing more clients who have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder being arrested for internet based sexual crimes including possessing images of child sexual abuse. 

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Reference

SOURCE RESEARCH

The contributory role of autism symptomology in child pornography offending: why there is an urgent need for empirical research in this area

Allely, C.S. & Cubin, L. (2018). The contributory role of autism symptomology in child pornography offending: why there is an urgent need for empirical research in this area. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behavior, 9 (4), 129-152.

Published: 2018

DOI: 10.1108/JIDOB-06-2018-0008

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