FASD & The Criminal Justice System

1. Basic understanding of what the fetal alcohol spectrum is, how it is diagnosed, and supports that can help reduce the negative impacts for persons with FASD. 2.Basic considerations for law enforcement practitioners to include such things as interrogative suggestibility, ‘red flags’ that may indicate the person may have a cognitive of neurodevelopmental disability, and considerations related to investigations which may aid in assessing overall culpability, working with victims who may impacted by FASD, and assessment of whether interrogations should continue 3. Basic considerations for corrections personnel to include such things communication, importance of routine, short and simple rules, and consideration of placement in ‘safe’ housing units 4. Basic considerations for the courts to include the emphasis on understanding as noted by the ABA, consideration of what works verse what doesn’t with sentencing and why, and the importance of simplifying terms of supervision 5. Basic considerations for support personnel to include probation/parole supervision emphasizing what works and what doesn’t; the importance of client specific emphasis; and development of supervisory/support team for increased success