Suggestibility, false confessions and competency to stand trial in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: current concerns and recommendations

Allely, Clare S.; Mukherjee, Raja

doi:10.1108/jcp-11-2019-050

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…In our experience, the ABC appears to also be useful in juvenile corrections settings. The tool contains domains that allow for assessment of confabulation and gullibility which are important markers for problematic outcomes during contact with the police, during court proceedings and at parole and probations hearings (Allely and Mukherjee, 2019; Burd and Edwards, 2019, Fall).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Validation Study of the Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders Behavioral Checklist

Klug

O'Connell

Palme

et al. 2021

Alcoholism Clin & Exp Res

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Background: The initial confirmatory factor analysis of the Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder Behavioral Checklist (ABC) utilized a population of 203 children. The analysis identified 10 independent measures (executive functioning, attention and concentration, cognition, memory, confabulation, gullibility, communication skills, academic skills, living/social skills, and juvenile justice). The 10 measures differentiated children with FASD from non-FASD controls. In this study, we present a validity study of the ABC using a different population of children with FASD and non-FASD controls.Methods: A chart review identified 224 children with ABC checklist scores who had been evaluated for FASD. From this sample, we implemented a case-control study of 76 children diagnosed with FASD and 76 non-FASD controls who were matched by gender and closest age in years (mean age was 8.5 years).Results: The averages of the total score and individual domain scores were compared between the 2 data sets and then between children with FASD and non-FASD controls. Children with FASD had significantly higher scores on all 10 measures than the non-FASD controls. There were very high sensitivity and specificity scores for the total score cutoff and for all 10 of the individual measures.Conclusions: In an independent sample, we found minimal differences between the previous data and the current validation study on measures of average total score cutoffs, scores for the 10 measures and correlations. Combining the 2 samples yielded robust differences in scores between children with FASD and non-FASD controls. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy estimates were also very high. The ABC Screen appears to have acceptable epidemiologic performance data to support its use as a screening tool and as an initial step in differentiating children with FASD from those who do not have FASD.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Validation Study of the Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders Behavioral Checklist

Klug

O'Connell

Palme

et al. 2021

Alcoholism Clin & Exp Res

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“…There is a recognized risk of false confessions in individuals with FASD, increased even more when certain interview styles are implemented. Their impairments (e.g., communication deficits, inability to anticipate consequences, tendency to be overly trusting with authority, eager to please when in a stressful situation) may result in improperly obtained confessions on the part of the police or other criminal justice professionals (Allely and Mukherjee, 2019). Corrections officials, probation and parole officers, forensic clinicians, and others conducting risk/need assessment with a FASD client may be in a sense improperly obtaining false 10.3389/fpsyg.…”

Section: Leisure/recreationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and Risk-Need-Responsivity Model: A guide for criminal justice and forensic mental health professionals

Brown

Arvidson²,

Carter³

et al. 2023

Front. Psychol.

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Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term used to describe a range of significant neurodevelopmental, brain-based disorders and impairments that result from prenatal alcohol exposure. FASD is a high prevalence but underdiagnosed group of disorders affecting between 17 and 36% of individuals in criminal justice settings. Despite being a high-impact disorder associated with lifelong impairments with a significant need for services and interventions, little research has been completed on how to best support individuals with these conditions in criminal justice settings. This article proposes a renewed focus on applying and adapting the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) approach to individuals with FASD in criminal justice settings. This will assist in better determining the needs and interventions likely to effect change and reduce recidivism for this prominent criminal justice-based population. The RNR approach has been used with multiple corrections populations to determine the need and most appropriate interventions, as well as how to best allocate scarce resources. As the prevalence of FASD becomes better understood and recognized, evidence-based approaches to addressing this specific sub-population are necessary to effect change and reduce recidivism and ongoing involvement in the criminal justice system.

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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).…”

Section: Fasd and Youth Criminal Justice Prevalencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Utilize questioning techniques that will render the most accurate information with all other factors in mind.Understand that individuals with FASD will sometimes accept blame for illegal activities and behavioral misconducts that they have not actually committed. Individuals with FASD experience deficits that result in social neediness, which render them vulnerable to manipulation, confabulation, suggestibility, and compliance. Allely & Mukherjee, 2019 Watts & Brown, 2016 Brown et al., 2011 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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Suggestibility, false confessions and competency to stand trial in individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders: current concerns and recommendations

Cited by 11 publications

References 29 publications

A Validation Study of the Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders Behavioral Checklist

A Validation Study of the Alcohol Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders Behavioral Checklist

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder and Risk-Need-Responsivity Model: A guide for criminal justice and forensic mental health professionals

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

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