Probation of the offender with high functioning autistic traits and comorbidity. A case study

Abstract

Introduction

When the Criminal Court Judge applies probation, the offender is entrusted to social assistants for the necessary observation, treatment and support. This case study examines the probation of a young man with high-functioning autistic traits, personality disorder and legal/illegal substance abuse. This young man, who arrived only in adulthood to a diagnosis of autistic traits, is aware only that is non-neurotypical. He does not recognize that he needs treatment for personality disorder, alcohol, substance and drug abuse. He faces a sentence of more than three years in prison but the Judge suspends the criminal trial.

Objectives

Clarify the relationship between high functioning autistic traits, comorbidity with personality disorder and drugs/substance abuse, and crimes committed; also describe the orientation of the Judge and what difficulties arise during the probation.

Methods

Examination of the criminal file and medical documents of the offender, known by social and health services.

Results

The offender correlates the crimes and its frailty with autism and not with antisocial behaviours to gain economic benefits from drug dealing.

Conclusions

The deficit in the social communication and lack of empathy for child victimes, for example, limits the effectiveness of probation. The probation, for a young with high-functioning autistic traits and comorbidity, does not seem to give satisfactory results in terms of rehabilitation and social integration, nor does it produce the extinction of crime.