Curriculum for Addiction Professionals > Competency 5: Continuing Care of Families Affected by FASD > 5. Legal Issues Related to Individuals with an FASD
Competency 6: Legal Issues
Legal Issues Related to Individuals with an FASD
It is difficult to know how many people
in the criminal justice system have an FASD. Data are limited, and populations
vary by State. In addition, few systems conduct any screening, and diagnosis is difficult. However, researchers at the University of Washington estimate
that 35 percent of individuals with an FASD have been in jail or prison at
some point. They also estimate that more than half the people with an FASD
have been in trouble with the law.1
The number of people with an FASD in
the criminal justice system is thought to be high. In the United States,
approximately 3 million people are in jail or prison. Based on estimates
of FASD in the general population, it is likely that there are many inmates who could have an
FASD.2