Where uncontradicted expert evidence establishes a causal nexus between an offender's Autism Spectrum Disorder and the offending, the sentencing judge must expressly consider and make findings about whether the disorder reduces moral culpability and whether it renders custody more onerous. A finding of special circumstances warranting extended parole supervision is not a sufficient substitute for an express finding that custody will be more onerous. The De La Rosa principles apply to ASD in the same way as to other mental conditions, but the mere existence of a causal nexus does not necessarily reduce the objective seriousness of persistent offending to a significant degree.
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