Capital City College Exam Access Assessor publishes autism awareness book

Dr Neil Alexander-Passe, Exam Access Assessor at Capital City College (CCC), has published a book examining autism awareness and crime.

Dr Neil Alexander Passe, Exam Access Assessor at Capital City College (CCC), has published a new book exploring Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and examining how a lack of understanding, awareness and training in schools and within the criminal justice system increases the likelihood of subsequent criminal behaviour. Autism Awareness and Crime: Investigating the School-to-Prison Pipeline is the third in a series of books written by Neil examining the relationship between neurodiversity and crime. 

The book looks at the type of offences that young people with autism are commonly arrested for, and the contributing related autistic traits which can be identified as risk factors. He examines criminal offences such as stalking, arson and cyber-crimes in detail while also considering how individuals with ASD are treated by the criminal justice system.

In addition to his research and writing work, Neil currently works at CCC’s Camden Campus as an Exam Access Assessor, assessing students for possible allowances for their GCSE, A levels or BTEC exams. We spoke to Neil to find out more about his role, his research and his writing.

How did you get into your current role?

I was a school SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) for about 10 years, working in primary and secondary schools. During that time, I trained to be an exam assessor – it’s a post-grad training. 

What do you like most about your role?

One of the reasons for changing from my previous role to this one is that I can affect change and give students the support I wasn’t able to give them in school because of time constraints. This is a more targeted role, allowing us to give the students what they need to be successful in their learning journey.

What led you to write this book?

This is my 18th book, so I’ve written a lot. My PhD is in dyslexia, school based trauma and post-school success. This book is the third title in a series looking at the school-to-prison pipeline. The first book was on dyslexia, neurodiversity and crime, and the second book was on ADHD and crime, and this most recent book is on autism and crime.

Each group fails for very different reasons, and I wanted to develop my knowledge of autism – this book allowed me to do that. I was also able to look at specific areas such as meltdowns within schools, which often lead to the police being called. A meltdown is when a child or a young person with autism gets dysregulated. This can be triggered by noise or change and leads them to the point where they lose consciousness of what they are doing and they may push with their hands or throw things. Where this is deemed to be violence, and the police are called, it can lead to them being thrown out of school. 

Working within schools, I’ve seen that kids are being failed. They’re not being tested for various learning needs and are then being forced out of schools and expelled. This leads them to be referred to a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), where they are vulnerable to drugs, gangs and crime – and this can set them on a pathway to crime as a career. 

Who is the book aimed at?

The book is ideal for students, researchers and practitioners working within special educational needs, social work, criminology and forensic psychology. It’s likely to be used on higher education courses such as degrees and master’s courses. It’s going down really well and there are a lot of people who would like it to be sent out to schools and used at crime units. 

What are you working on next?

I’ve just sent my publisher my latest book on neurodiversity on entrepreneurship, so that should be out in three or four months. It’s based on a paper I previously wrote that looked at the management strategies used by well-known entrepreneurs such as Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, James Dyson and Richard Branson. The book is built on that paper and also incorporates a large survey talking to another 32 business people with either ADHD, autism or dyslexia.

I’m currently finishing a book on dyslexia, art and school-based trauma. A lot of dyslexic people struggle with reading and writing and turn to art as a career. It’s the trauma that they’ve felt just going through school that has led to them making art as a means of really talking about their lives.

Positive reviews

Neil’s recently-published book Autism Awareness and Crime: Investigating the School-to-Prison Pipeline has received a number of positive reviews from academics and leading experts in the field.

Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, Director, Autism Research Centre, Cambridge University, said: “This valuable book highlights how autistic people are at increased risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system. In most cases, this is for reasons related to their disability, and where they had no intention of breaking the law. Neil makes the powerful case that with greater support at school, autistic people can avoid this pipeline to prison altogether.”

Professor Amanda Kirby, Emeritus Professor at the University of South Wales, Honorary Professor at Cardiff University, and Visiting Professor at Trinity College, Dublin, said: “Autism and Crime is a thought-provoking and essential read that illuminates the systemic barriers faced by autistic individuals in education, society, and the criminal justice system. With its blend of research, lived experiences, and actionable recommendations, it is a vital resource for anyone committed to equity, understanding, and reform.”

At CCC, we believe in offering every student the opportunity to learn and pursue their career path to the fullest. We warmly encourage applications from individuals with diverse learning needs and are committed to providing the necessary support. You can learn more about the Support and wellbeing resources available at CCC contact the relevant Additional Learning Services (ALS) team for more information.

Share!