Cybercrime and the Autism Spectrum by Riggs Cohen, Mary; Kelley, Elizabeth; Bush, Michele;

Short description:

Cybercrime and the Autism Spectrum explores the intersection of cybercrime and the autism spectrum, offering a multidimensional perspective from a clinician, an attorney and a technical forensic expert.

Long description:

Cybercrime and the Autism Spectrum explores the intersection of cybercrime and the autism spectrum, offering a multidimensional perspective from a clinician, an attorney, and a technical forensic expert. With a focus on real-life anonymized cases, discover how the online world impacts autistic individuals as both victim and offender.

This book provides strategies on how to detect and prevent autistic individuals engaging in criminal behavior online, such as communication with minors, child pornography, stalking, and online radicalization. Current research and clinical case studies provide a sympathetic and non-pathologizing insight into recognizing problematic behavior, creating online safety, and treatment for autistic individuals.

This is essential reading for mental health professionals working with neurodiverse individuals and their families, attorneys working with autistic clients, judges, law enforcement officers, those in training, and anyone seeking to understand the challenges and vulnerabilities facing autistic people in the digital age will have renewed compassion for the difficulties they face.

"This remarkable book reveals the seldom-discussed connection between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and cybercrime. The book illustrates that predatory tactics by online exploiters target vulnerable characteristics of individuals with ASD, who then become criminal defendants. The authors leverage substantial experience to provide new insights for potential forensic expert witnesses. The related phenomena they discuss, in 14 outstanding chapters, provide a new framework for professionals to educate attorneys, prosecutors, and juries on matters previously unexplored. I regard this book as essential reading for all attorneys and mental health professionals involved in criminal cases with defendants on the autism spectrum."

Kenneth J. Weiss, MD, clinical professor of psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

"I recommend Cybercrime and the Autism Spectrum to all judges.  Not only does it describe the challenges people on the spectrum face in the criminal legal system, but it details the reasons for their behavior and why they are vulnerable to committing online offenses."

Judge Bernice Donald, retired judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit 

"Cybercrime and the Autism Spectrum: How the Online World Creates Victims and Offenders is an essential, powerful and comprehensive resource on cybercrime and autism spectrum disorder written by world-leading experts in the field. This groundbreaking book will be an invaluable addition to the bookshelves of academics, mental health and legal professionals, teachers, caregivers and other professionals working with individuals on the spectrum. The potential real-world impact the knowledge and guidance this book will give is priceless."

Clare Allely, professor of forensic psychology at the University of Salford, United Kingdom

Table of Contents:

Introduction 1. Online Behavior and Autism  2. Risk Factors for Becoming a Victim or Offender  3. Sexual Offenses and Victimization: Social Media and Pornography  4. Autism and Online Radicalization  5. Competency and Restoration  6. Criminal Responsibility  7. Working with an Attorney  8. Working with the Mental Health Expert  9. Working with a Forensic Computer Expert  10. Sentencing  11. Incarceration  12. Federal Litigation  13. Technological Advancements and Outdated Laws  14. Artificial Intelligence and ASD  15. International Criminal Justice Systems and the United States  16. Concluding Thoughts