This study surveyed 199 forensic clinicians about the practices that they use in assessing violence risk in juvenile and adult offenders. Results indicated that the use of risk assessment and psychopathy tools was common. Although clinicians reported more routine use of psychopathy measures in adult risk assessments compared with juvenile risks assessments, 79% of clinicians reported using psychopathy measures at least once in a while in juvenile risk assessments. Extremely few clinicians, however, believe that juveniles should be labeled or referred to as psychopaths. Juvenile risk reports were more likely than adult reports to routinely discuss treatment and protective factors, and provide recommendations to reevaluate risk. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Background: Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience a range of problems in their cognitive, affective, and physical functioning following prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), in addition to multiple complex difficulties in daily living that impact well-being. Using the Canadian National FASD Database, we sought to profile a range of difficulties in daily living, along with risk factors, in a large cross-sectional cohort of adolescents, transition-aged youth, and adults with PAE, of which a subset was ultimately diagnosed with FASD. Methods:We summarized data for 9 current difficulties in daily living reported at the time of diagnostic assessment for 726 individuals with PAE assessed at 26 FASD diagnostic clinics across Canada, including 443 adolescents (12 to 17 years), 135 transition-aged youth (18 to 24 years) and 148 adults (25 to 60 years). Difficulties included problems related to school disruption, employment, independent living needs, supportive or sheltered housing, legal problems with victimization, legal problems with offending, incarceration, alcohol misuse, and other substance misuse. Risk factors included age, gender, living placement, postnatal trauma, and neurodevelopmental impairment.Results: Across the full PAE sample, adolescents, transition-aged youth, and adults presented with high rates of difficulties in daily living, including independent living support needs (63%), alcohol misuse (38%), other substance misuse (46%), employment problems (37%), legal problems with offending (30%), assisted or sheltered housing (21%), school disruption (18%), legal problems with victimization (4%), and incarceration (3%). Difficulty rates were similar for those with FASD irrespective of diagnosis (e.g., with or without sentinel facial features), but rates greater for adults, and those with low overall intellectual functioning (IQ < 70). Controlling for age and IQ, cumulative difficulty was independently associated with gender, living placement, and neurodevelopmental impairment.Conclusions: Adolescents, transition-aged youth, and adults with FASD experienced a range of substantial and complex difficulties at the time of their diagnostic assessment, signaling a high level of service needs. These findings underscore the importance of developmentally informed assessment continued through childhood, as well as ongoing functional and needsbased service provision as youth with FASD transition to adulthood and beyond.

Individuals with a diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience a range of physical, cognitive, and behavioral deficits thought to interfere with their ability to competently navigate the arrest, interrogation, and trial process. This study examined the psycholegal abilities of young offenders with FASD, including their understanding and appreciation of Miranda rights, and adjudication capacities (factual knowledge of criminal procedure, appreciation of the nature and object of the proceedings, ability to participate in a defense and communicate with counsel). Two groups of young offenders (50 with FASD and 50 without prenatal alcohol exposure) completed Grisso's Instruments for Assessing Understanding and Appreciation of Miranda rights and the Fitness Interview Test-Revised to assess overall rates of impairment in youth with FASD, as well as differences between the groups. Potentially important predictors of psycholegal abilities were also evaluated. Results indicated the majority of young offenders with FASD (90%) showed impairment in at least one psycholegal ability, and rates of impairment were significantly higher than the comparison group. However, considerable within-group variability was observed. IQ and reading comprehension emerged as robust predictors of participants' psycholegal abilities, while the FASD diagnosis differentiated participants' scores on the FIT-R. These findings underscore the importance of individualized and comprehensive forensic assessments of psycholegal abilities in this population when warranted. Additional system level strains for this population are discussed, including problems in approaching competency remediation, and the potentially growing need for accommodation and forensic assessments in the face of limited financial and professional resources in legal settings.

For many years, researchers have explored the complex challenges experienced by individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). This research has been important for documenting the brain-and body-based impacts of prenatal alcohol exposure and the psychosocial vulnerabilities and environmental adversities frequently associated with FASD. It has also supported advocacy efforts and highlighted the necessity of providing FASD services and supports. However, with the focus on deficits and needs, there is a considerable gap in the literature on the strengths and successes of individuals with FASD. The lack of strengths-based FASD research has likely perpetuated the stress and stigma experienced by individuals with FASD and their families. Thus, there is a critical need to shift the direction of the field. Here we provide a narrative review of the literature on strengths in FASD. Our goals are to: (1) understand the state of strengths-based research related to individuals with FASD across the lifespan, and (2) describe positive characteristics, talents, and abilities of individuals with FASD that may be cultivated to promote their fulfillment and wellbeing. We identified a total of 19 studies, most of which were conducted to explore the lived experiences of adults with FASD. This preliminary but critical body of evidence highlights the intrinsic strengths of individuals with FASD, including strong selfawareness, receptiveness to support, capacity for human connection, perseverance through challenges, and hope for the future.