Autism spectrum disorder, extremism and risk assessment

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• No direct link established between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and extremism in the general population.
• Growing recognition of ASD traits potentially increasing vulnerability to extremist behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• Advocates for a specialized clinical approach to integrate risk assessment with ASD vulnerability evaluation within the Criminal Justice System.
• Introduces the Framework for the Assessment of Risk & Protection in Offenders on the Autistic Spectrum (FARAS).

Main Methods:

• Explores the FARAS, a guide for risk assessors working with autistic offenders.
• Identifies seven ASD facets linked to terrorism "push and pull" factors.

Main Results:

• FARAS development highlights seven key ASD facets: circumscribed interests, fantasy/imagination, need for order, obsessionality, social communication difficulties, cognitive styles, and sensory processing.
• These facets offer insights into potential vulnerabilities relevant to extremism.

Conclusions:

• The FARAS is presented alongside established clinical risk appraisal tools like the HCR20v3.
• Emphasizes the integration of FARAS within Structured Professional Judgement for assessing risk in autistic individuals.