Criminal legal system contact in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD): Experiences and support needs

People with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) often receive inadequate supports, which can lead to an increased risk of becoming involved in the criminal legal system (CLS). This study compared the needs of people with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE)/FASD with and without CLS contact and examined patterns of intervention recommendations across groups. Data was drawn from the Canadian National FASD Database and included 544 people with PAE/FASD (M age = 21.1, SD = 8.9, 69.1 % male), matched on age, IQ, and sex, in CLS (n = 272) and non-CLS (n = 272) groups. Several key indicators of CLS contact were identified including having a diagnosis of substance use disorder and experiences of alcohol use/misuse. Recommendations for intervention were more often given for people with CLS contact compared to those without, particularly in respect to mental/physical health and safety needs. Understanding these needs is critical for informing clinical and forensic practice, prevention and intervention planning, and developing and implementing evidence-informed practices to support individuals with FASD.