Purpose <p>Deviant peer association is a robust risk factor for offending, that is, any behavior that violates a criminal law. This can include behaviors like drug use, violence, and theft; among others. Autism is a neurodivergent condition characterized by both atypical cognitive development and challenges with social interaction and communication. Despite these impairments, there is a dearth of research focused on the relationship between autism and deviant peer association. Relatedly, there exists no research examining the role that dual systems model constructs (sensation-seeking and impulse control) as mediators of this relationship. This study sought to address these gaps in the literature by examining autism as a predictor of deviant peer association in childhood and whether either or both impulse control or sensation-seeking significantly mediate this relationship.</p> Materials <p>Waves 1, 3, and 4 of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study were analyzed. Structural equation modeling was used to examine these direct and indirect relationships of interest.</p> Results <p>Results indicated that autism was associated with lower deviant peer association scores. Lower sensation-seeking scores among youth with autism significantly mediated this relationship, but impulse control did not.</p> Conclusion <p>Autism may be a protective factor against deviant peer association due to diminished sensation-seeking relative to neurotypical peers. Future research should take a developmental perspective on these relationships to examine whether they are consistent at later stages of the life-course.</p>