A Unique Response to Offenders with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Perceptions of the Alexis FASD Justice Program
Publication: Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Volume 60, Number 1
Abstract
Abstract
Despite our knowledge that individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) are over-represented and vulnerable in the justice system, there is a critical paucity of research related to supporting offenders with FASD. The Alexis FASD Justice Program (AFJP) is an innovative and multidisciplinary justice program in rural Alberta that uses information from neurocognitive assessments to inform court decisions for adults with suspected FASD. In the current study, the perspectives of AFJP services providers were explored, with the goal of identifying the perceived impacts and challenges of the program. Through two focus groups with a total of 18 participants, four themes were identified: building capacity, humanizing the offender, creating bridges, and moving forward. These themes are discussed in reference to existing recommended practices for working with offenders with FASD, and future avenues for research are identified.
Résumé
Malgré le fait que les personnes souffrant du trouble du spectre de l'alcoolisation fœtale (TSAF) sont surreprésentées et vulnérables dans le système juridique, il y a une pénurie critique d'études portant sur le soutien aux contrevenants souffrant du TSAF. Le programme de justice TSAF à Alexis (AFJP) est un programme novateur et multidisciplinaire dans une région rurale de l'Alberta. Il utilise des renseignements obtenus d'évaluations neurocognitives pour influencer les décisions de la cour en ce qui concerne des adultes qui semblent souffrir de TSAF. Dans l'étude actuelle, les perspectives des fournisseurs de services TSAF ont été explorées dans le but d'identifier les impacts et défis perçus du programme. Par l'entremise de deux groupes de consultation ayant en tout 18 participants, quatre thèmes ont été identifiés : la capacité au développement, l'humanisation du contrevenant, la création de ponts et l'avenir. Ces thèmes sont discutés dans le contexte des pratiques actuellement recommandées dans le cadre d'intervention avec des contrevenants souffrant de TSAF. Des possibilités futures de recherche sont identifiées.
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Published In
Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Volume 60 • Number 1 • January 2018
Pages: 1 - 33
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© 2018 CJCCJ/RCCJP.
History
Published online: 21 November 2017
Published in print: January 2018
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Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice 2018 60:1, 1-33
Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice 2018 60:1, 1-33