A Unique Response to Offenders with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Perceptions of the Alexis FASD Justice Program

Flannigan, Katherine; Pei, Jacqueline; Rasmussen, Carmen; Potts, Sandra; O'Riordan, Teresa

doi:10.3138/cjccj.2016-0021.r2

Cited by 11 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Preliminary evidence from this research suggests that the FASD Justice Program service providers and stakeholders believe the program to be ground-breaking and highly impactful for clients, service providers, and the wider Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation community (Flannigan et al, 2018). For instance, program service providers perceived the FASD Justice Program to increase community awareness and understanding of FASD and to facilitate connections between service providers and community members (Flannigan et al, 2018). In this way, the partnership may have helped to improve understanding of the needs experienced by individuals with FASD in the community and shed light on key factors that may influence their involvement in the legal system.…”

Section: Conflict Of Interestmentioning

confidence: 89%

“…This community collaboration has allowed for the research to be meaningful and responsive to the unique Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation context. Preliminary evidence from this research suggests that the FASD Justice Program service providers and stakeholders believe the program to be ground-breaking and highly impactful for clients, service providers, and the wider Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation community (Flannigan et al, 2018). For instance, program service providers perceived the FASD Justice Program to increase community awareness and understanding of FASD and to facilitate connections between service providers and community members (Flannigan et al, 2018).…”

Section: Conflict Of Interestmentioning

confidence: 93%

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Understanding the needs of justice‐involved adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in an Indigenous community

Flannigan

Tremblay

Potts³

et al. 2021

Behavioral Sci & The Law

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Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience a range of neurodevelopmental challenges, often compounded by social and environmental adversity. One of the most concerning outcomes that can be associated with FASD is involvement in the justice system, where individuals with FASD are vastly over-represented. Individuals with FASD who are both justice-involved and Indigenous experience added layers of marginalization. In this community-based study, we explored the needs of 16 adults who participated in an FASD-informed restorative justice program in an Indigenous community in Alberta, Canada. Clinical record reviews and client interviews were used to gather information. Diverse needs were identified, including pervasive neurodevelopmental difficulties, notable physical and mental health challenges, complex experiences of psychosocial trauma, and varied criminogenic needs. This study increases our understanding of the unique and complex biopsychosocial and criminogenic needs of Indigenous justice-involved adults with FASD. Such an understanding is a first step in developing tailored interventions for individuals with FASD and has important practice and policy implications for supporting positive outcomes. For Indigenous individuals with FASD, intervention efforts should be integrated within the community context to promote collective healing.

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Section: Conflict Of Interestmentioning

confidence: 89%

Section: Conflict Of Interestmentioning

confidence: 93%

Understanding the needs of justice‐involved adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in an Indigenous community

Flannigan

Tremblay

Potts³

et al. 2021

Behavioral Sci & The Law

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Research has illustrated that persons with FASD are overrepresented in the criminal justice context (Allely & Mukherjee, 2019;Brintnell et al, 2019;Brown et al, 2011;Fast & Conry, 2009;MacPherson et al, 2011;MacSween, 2012;Streissguth et al, 1996Streissguth et al, , 2004. This may be due to a combination of neurocognitive deficits, background factors, and other traits commonly associated with FASD-related disability (Burd et al, 2010;Flannigan, Pei, Rasmussen, et al, 2018;Johansen-Hill, 2019;Passmore et al, 2018). Contributing to this, persons with FASD are often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed in many settings (Petrenko et al, 2014(Petrenko et al, , 2019Ryan et al, 2006) such as schools and youth detention.…”

Section: Fasd and Youth Criminal Justice Prevalencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unfortunately, these deficits do not occur in isolation but rather they interact with each other in increasingly complex ways. Therefore, individuals with this condition are prone to various maladaptive behaviors including poor, impulsive decision making (Brown et al., 2012; Flannigan, Pei, Rasmussen, et al., 2018; LaDue et al., 1993). Deficits are exacerbated under conditions of emotional stress or when trying to solve a problem beyond their capabilities (Aragón et al., 2008; Kodituwakku et al., 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Particular areas of challenge for the individual may be present throughout the person's life and may be observed in youth, adolescence, and adulthood. For example, executive functioning deficits (e.g., problem solving, planning, impulse control, judgment) may be present throughout the life of a person with FASD and influence how authority figures, including the criminal justice system, treats them (Flannigan, Pei, Rasmussen, et al., 2018; McMurtrie, 2011). Other deficits that may be present no matter the person's age may include social and emotional immaturity (Streissguth et al., 1996).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and youth firesetting: A call on criminal justice, emergency responder, and fire prevention specialists to become informed

Brown

Spiller²,

Carter

et al. 2021

Behavioral Sci & The Law

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Central nervous system damage resulting from prenatal exposure to alcohol, often referred to as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), commonly manifests as lacking cognitive functioning, problem solving, impulsivity, memory, executive functioning, and social skill deficits. For individuals with FASD, these brain‐based deficits translate into impulsive behaviors and poorly thought‐out decision‐making, coupled with an inability to anticipate and recognize the sometimes very severe consequences of their behaviors. Not unexpectedly, individuals with FASD frequently find themselves disproportionately involved in the criminal justice system and mental health services. For some individuals with FASD, these behaviors can also include firesetting. First responders, like other health and legal professionals, are often unable to recognize the behavioral indicators of FASD, primarily due to a lack of training. As a result, firesetting behaviors are often attributed to deliberate, willful acts of delinquency, a desire to damage property, thrill seeking, or as attempts for personal gain, rather than being viewed as maladaptive attempts to solve problems by individuals who lack the tools to do this in more appropriate ways. These same skill deficits also present when individuals with FASD are interviewed about their involvement in such behaviors, sometimes resulting in confabulation, suggestibility, and false confessions. Further education and training in FASD are vital for first responders if they are to better support individuals with FASD and minimize their chances of becoming involved in firesetting behaviors. Furthermore, this training and education will help ensure that first responders can intervene in more appropriately when crisis situations do occur. This article will outline key behavioral symptoms of FASD as well as provide first responders with suggestions as to how to best support individuals when FASD is suspected. The brief quote that follows highlights some of the key challenges facing individuals with FASD and how poor decision‐making and impulsiveness can result in severe consequences for the individual and those around them.

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Supporting young people's cognition and communication in the courtroom: A scoping review of current practices

Turner

Hughes

2022

Criminal Behav Ment Health

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Background: A recent meta-analysis suggested that the majority of young people in contact with the criminal justice system have cognitive and/or communication impairments.Over the past 20 years, recognition of these complex needs has resulted in support measures being put in place in courtrooms across the globe. It is therefore timely to review evidence for the efficacy of these measures. Aims: This scoping review evaluates evidence on support measures employed to facilitate access to court proceedings for individuals with cognition and communication impairments, and considers how this evidence might inform future research and practice. Methods: Research databases were searched for studies that: directly or indirectly involved a population with a form of functional impairment and/or diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder; and refer to support delivered to remove barriers or support access to courtroom processes. Results: Searches identified 3,318 distinct articles. Following review, 37 papers were identified for inclusion. The papers were published between 1993 and 2019, with the majority being published since 2010 (n = 23). The majority of papers were from the United Kingdom (n = 26); other

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A Unique Response to Offenders with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Perceptions of the Alexis FASD Justice Program

Cited by 11 publications

References 40 publications

Understanding the needs of justice‐involved adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in an Indigenous community

Understanding the needs of justice‐involved adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in an Indigenous community

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and youth firesetting: A call on criminal justice, emergency responder, and fire prevention specialists to become informed

Supporting young people's cognition and communication in the courtroom: A scoping review of current practices

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