Can a Person with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Receive Justice in Court, in England and Wales?

Alcohol during pregnancy can cause permanent physical birth defects, brain damage, and impaired learning development.  People with FASD can flourish if they have love, support, and their learning scaffolded. However, their journey can also be challenging. Research has shown that people with FASD are 19 times more likely to become involved in the Criminal Justice System. If they go to court they may be denied a fair trial and end up in prison, they are likely to reoffend, perpetuating a revolving cycle. My research will investigate the abilities relevant to an individual’s fitness to plead and participate in a trial. It will test those abilities with a sample of people with FASD against a sample of people without FASD. I will question legal professionals on their knowledge of FASD and explore training requirements.