Exploring the experiences of an autistic male convicted of stalking

Despite an increasing number of studies which examine the interplay between autism and offending mechanisms, there has been a lack of research investigating the interplay between autism and stalking. It was anticipated that findings from this investigation would inform future interventions with individuals with autism who stalk. This secondary data analysis research used a qualitative case study approach to explore the experiences of an individual with a HighFunctioning Autism (HFA) diagnosis, who had been convicted of stalking. Interview data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to gain a rich understanding of stalking behaviour from the perspective of the individual and to identify the key issues associated with Criminal Justice Service interventions. The following superordinate themes were identified; ‘What she means to me’, ‘Problematic, but unstoppable'’ and ‘Life after prison’. A key impli-cation of the findings was that autistic traits can play a contextual role within stalking behaviour. Future recommendations of a specifically tailored treatment approach recognising and considering autism-related responsivity issues are discussed

On Secure Workflow Decentralisation on the Internet

Decentralised workflow management systems are a new research area, where most work to-date has focused on the system's overall architecture. As little attention has been given to the security aspects in such systems, we follow a security driven approach, and consider, from the perspective of available security building blocks, how security can be implemented and what new opportunities are presented when empowering the decentralised environment with modern distributed security protocols. Our research is motivated by a more general question of how to combine the positive enablers that email exchange enjoys, with the general benefits of workflow systems, and more specifically with the benefits that can be introduced in a decentralised environment. This aims to equip email users with a set of tools to manage the semantics of a message exchange, contents, participants and their roles in the exchange in an environment that provides inherent assurances of security and privacy. This work is based on a survey of contemporary distributed security protocols, and considers how these protocols could be used in implementing a distributed workflow management system with decentralised control . We review a set of these protocols, focusing on the required message sequences in reviewing the protocols, and discuss how these security protocols provide the foundations for implementing core control-flow, data, and resource patterns in a distributed workflow environment

'The guy might not even be able to remember why he's here and what he's in here for and why he's locked in': residents and prison staff experiences of living and working alongside people with dementia who are serving prison sentences for a sexual offence

Prison staff and residents with sexual convictions, from two UK prisons, were interviewed to explore their understanding and experiences of dementia. The aim was to explore understanding and experiences of dementia in response to Governor-identified needs in the prisons. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen prisoners and seventeen prison staff across both prisons, all of whom had direct prisoner contact. Transcripts of the interviews were created and thematic analysis was carried out. Four superordinate themes emerged from the data. The first theme, 'Balancing act', explored the way that individuals with dementia should be encouraged to be independent whilst still meeting their need for support in some tasks and areas of functioning. The second theme, 'Challenges and confusion' explored the way that dementia symptoms might be masked in prison settings, how they can be misinterpreted and the impact and understanding of inappropriate behaviour in a prison for those with sexual convictions. 'What works and what doesn't' in a prison setting formed the basis of the third theme, with the final theme, 'Who to tell?' exploring the transfer of information and the sources of support available in the prisons. Practical suggestions for caring for individuals with dementia in prison are made

Identification and support of autistic individuals within the UK Criminal Justice System: a practical approach based upon professional consensus with input from lived experience

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (hereafter referred to as autism) is characterised by difficulties with (i) social communication, social interaction, and (ii) restricted and repetitive interests and behaviours. Estimates of autism prevalence within the criminal justice system (CJS) vary considerably, but there is evidence to suggest that the condition can be missed or misidentified within this population. Autism has implications for an individual’s journey through the CJS, from police questioning and engagement in court proceedings through to risk assessment, formulation, therapeutic approaches, engagement with support services, and long-term social and legal outcomes. Methods: This consensus based on professional opinion with input from lived experience aims to provide general principles for consideration by United Kingdom (UK) CJS personnel when working with autistic individuals, focusing on autistic offenders and those suspected of offences. Principles may be transferable to countries beyond the UK. Multidisciplinary professionals and two service users were approached for their input to address the effective identification and support strategies for autistic individuals within the CJS. Results: The authors provide a consensus statement including recommendations on the general principles of effective identification, and support strategies for autistic individuals across different levels of the CJS. Conclusion: Greater attention needs to be given to this population as they navigate the CJS.Acknowledgements: We are grateful to the assistance of SW and MK, two service users who reviewed and contributed to the manuscript

Identification and support of autistic individuals within the UK Criminal Justice System: a practical approach based upon professional consensus with input from lived experience

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (hereafter referred to as autism) is characterised by difficulties with (i) social communication, social interaction, and (ii) restricted and repetitive interests and behaviours. Estimates of autism prevalence within the criminal justice system (CJS) vary considerably, but there is evidence to suggest that the condition can be missed or misidentified within this population. Autism has implications for an individual’s journey through the CJS, from police questioning and engagement in court proceedings through to risk assessment, formulation, therapeutic approaches, engagement with support services, and long-term social and legal outcomes. Methods: This consensus based on professional opinion with input from lived experience aims to provide general principles for consideration by United Kingdom (UK) CJS personnel when working with autistic individuals, focusing on autistic offenders and those suspected of offences. Principles may be transferable to countries beyond the UK. Multidisciplinary professionals and two service users were approached for their input to address the effective identification and support strategies for autistic individuals within the CJS. Results: The authors provide a consensus statement including recommendations on the general principles of effective identification, and support strategies for autistic individuals across different levels of the CJS. Conclusion: Greater attention needs to be given to this population as they navigate the CJS

Identification and support of autistic individuals within the UK Criminal Justice System: a practical approach based upon professional consensus with input from lived experience.

From Europe PMC via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: ppub 2024-04-01, epub 2024-04-12Publication status: PublishedBackgroundAutism spectrum disorder (hereafter referred to as autism) is characterised by difficulties with (i) social communication, social interaction, and (ii) restricted and repetitive interests and behaviours. Estimates of autism prevalence within the criminal justice system (CJS) vary considerably, but there is evidence to suggest that the condition can be missed or misidentified within this population. Autism has implications for an individual's journey through the CJS, from police questioning and engagement in court proceedings through to risk assessment, formulation, therapeutic approaches, engagement with support services, and long-term social and legal outcomes.MethodsThis consensus based on professional opinion with input from lived experience aims to provide general principles for consideration by United Kingdom (UK) CJS personnel when working with autistic individuals, focusing on autistic offenders and those suspected of offences. Principles may be transferable to countries beyond the UK. Multidisciplinary professionals and two service users were approached for their input to address the effective identification and support strategies for autistic individuals within the CJS.ResultsThe authors provide a consensus statement including recommendations on the general principles of effective identification, and support strategies for autistic individuals across different levels of the CJS.ConclusionGreater attention needs to be given to this population as they navigate the CJS

Inhibition of Xylene Isomerization in the Production of Renewable Aromatic Chemicals from Biomass-Derived Furans

Inhibition of <i>p-</i>xylene isomerization in the presence of H-Y (Si/Al 2.6) and H-BEA (Si/Al 12.5) zeolites was studied under conditions relevant to <i>p-</i>xylene production from 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) and ethylene. Through examination of the reaction components, it was shown that both DMF and 2,5-hexanedione inhibit transalkylation and methyl shift reactions of <i>p-</i>xylene, while other reaction components, water and ethylene, do not. Retention of Brønsted acid sites after the reaction was shown through the use of ²⁷Al NMR for both H-Y and H-BEA zeolites, but with a reduction in the ratio of tetrahedrally coordinated aluminum (strong acid sites) to octahedrally coordinated aluminum (Lewis acid sites) coinciding with the disappearance of the framework aluminum. Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy has shown preferential adsorption of DMF and 2,5-hexanedione (DMF + H₂O) relative to <i>p-</i>xylene to the Brønsted acid sites located in the super and sodalite cages of the H-Y. Desorption characteristics for DMF and <i>p-</i>xylene in H-Y and H-BEA were determined by thermogravimetric analysis, consistent with adsorption energetics of individual chemical species and dimeric complexes evaluated by an ONIOM method. Evaluation of three mechanisms, allowing for production of <i>p-</i>xylene from DMF and ethylene while also inhibiting <i>p-</i>xylene isomerization, supports high surface coverage of the active site with 2,5-hexanedione, supported by electronic structure calculations