Neurocognitive Difficulties Underlying High Risk and Criminal Behaviour in FASD: Clinical Implications

Individuals with FASD are often characterized by impaired neurocognitive functioning, which may increase their likelihood of engaging in maladaptive, high risk, and criminal behaviour. Additionally, this group is frequently reported to experience lifelong environmental adversity, and the combination of these factors complicates efforts to intervene and support positive outcomes. As a result, individuals with FASD are over-represented in the criminal justice system, which is poorly suited for affected offenders. In this chapter, a new conceptualization of FASD and criminality is proposed, which draws on a comprehensive model of functioning to better understand the needs of offenders with FASD and ultimately reduce risk of offending behaviour.