A person with Asperger's Syndrome honestly, genuinely, and whole-heartedly DOES NOT for the life of them, understand the pain they inflict on another person. While I agree they have broken the law, perhaps a "specialized" prison is better suited for these individuals.

A person with AS, "Aspies," will never be rehabilitated. It is impossible to change the wiring in their brain. Their obsessions sometimes lead to very distruptive behavior. I know, I live with an individual with AS.

"A person with Asperger's Syndrome honestly, genuinely, and whole-heartedly DOES NOT for the life of them, understand the pain they inflict on another person."

That sounds like a sociopath. What's the difference then between having asperger's and being a sociopath?

I agree. Defined in that way, there's little distinction, and if the intent is to lessen the sentence and get the person help, the argument would make me advocate the criminal with AS get an even longer sentence in a mental hosptial.

Wow, if this is true, I guess people with Asperger's should have special surveillance and be barred from positions where they might harm someone. If they're not responsible adults and can't be held responsible, I guess they should have a legal status similar to that of juveniles.

I agree with "alath"'s sentiment. I have AS myself; I can tell you that people with Asperger's are not unable to discern right and wrong. We are NOT sociopaths. A difficulty reading and interpreting nonverbal cues is not the same thing as a lack of empathy; failure to understand other people should not be conflated with not caring about them.

I think it is interesting to note that almost all of the criminals with AS described are men; there is an intersection of different social/cultural forces at play here. Many of these men, I'm sure, have psychological issues separate from their Asperger's, and there were probably environmental factors throughout their lives--which may or may not have exacerbated or been exacerbated by AS--that contributed to their behavior. Ultimately, they just happen to have Asperger syndrome. The condition did not cause their behavior, nor does it absolve it.

Puffin your post has some good points. What would you do in this case?