Judicial Views of Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Queensland's Criminal Justice System

Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, or FASD, refers to a range of effects that can result from pre-natal exposure to maternal drinking. Under the umbrella of FASD there are several types of diagnoses which are associated with various cognitive and physical impairments. Research suggests that around 2% of the population have FASD and around 60% of those with FASD come into contact with the criminal justice system. However, unlike Canada and the United States, there is almost no mention of FASD in Australian criminal case law. This article reports the results of a survey of members of the Queensland judiciary about their understanding of FASD and how they deal with FASD in their judicial role