Work

Dis/ableist criminology: Conceptualising the social harms experienced by neurodivergent individuals who have encountered the criminal justice system

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This article examines the intersections between neurotypes, social harm, and criminality. By employing a mobile-biographical interpretive method, the lived experiences of three neurodivergent individuals who have previously engaged in criminal activity and with diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, developmental dyslexia (dyslexia), and autism spectrum disorder (autism) are explored. The findings offer a detailed exploration of how discrimination has shaped the lived experiences of these participants. This study emphasises the role of social harms including educational trauma, poverty, interpersonal violence, homelessness, dis/ableism, and marginalisation, in creating pathways to offending. The analysis extends beyond individual deficits and illustrates the systemic and cultural factors that marginalise neurodivergent people.

Source: The British Journal of Criminology

DOI: 10.1093/bjc/azag035

Authors: Stephen J Macdonald, Donna Peacock

Institutions: Durham University, Birmingham City University

Language: English

Topic: Disability Rights and Representation

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,341