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According to a new report, individuals with FASD are at high risk for coming into contact with the criminal justice system, and as a result FASD is pervasive among both male and female inmate populations across the U.S. The report emphasizes an earlier finding that sixty percent of individuals ages 12 and older with FASD have been in trouble with authorities, charged or convicted, at some point in their lifetime.
The study, Substance Abuse and America’s Prison Population by Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), finds that 64% of inmates have substance abuse disorders. The report states that, “FASD is one of the most common conditions that co-occurs with substance abuse disorders,” and points out that, “Far less than one percent of expected cases [of FASD] have been identified in the criminal justice system.” Among the report’s recommendations are that, “Individuals with FASD [be provided with] appropriate services and support at every point in the criminal justice process, from arrest to imprisonment to reentry.”
“To fulfill that goal,” says NOFAS President Tom Donaldson, “first we have to diagnose FASD.” He continued, “This is what happens when we as a society don’t bother to diagnose children and adults with FASD. They don’t get appropriate medical and mental health services, and then left untreated their poor impulse control, inability to understand the consequences of their behavior, and limited social and interpersonal skills can be tragic for them, and for others.”
Donaldson agrees that if a person with FASD commits a crime they have to live with the consequences, but he adds, “The point is to prevent the crime in the first place by diagnosing FASD and helping people with the condition reach their potential. If you don’t care about that, a diagnosis and proper care also saves taxpayer money and reduces crime. Maybe that’s something that will motivate society to take action.”
In addition to learning that justice system personnel are not properly qualified to address the needs of offenders with FASD, researchers also found that criminal courts rarely consider FASD a mitigating factor in a crime.
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