Revolving door: young offender activity and adolescents with fetal alcohol syndrome/fetal alcohol effect

Abstract

This descriptive study explores the criminal activity amongst 86 adolescents in care of the Alberta Child Welfare system. In the sample, 53% of the records (child welfare and young offender) originate from adolescents with disability (excluding FAS/FAE), 7% from adolescents with FAS/FAE, 28% from adolescents with FAS/FAE and other disabilities, and 12% from adolescents with no identified disability. A profile for the sample was created by identifying frequencies in prevalence of disability, nature of criminal activity type (property, person, or other), nature of disposition, and disposition outcomes, and recidivistic activity. The Chi-Square Test yielded significant associations between disability and the dependent variables. Further statistical analysis showed significant variability between adolescents with FAS/FAE and other disabilities and adolescents with disabilities (excluding FAS/FAE) in nature of criminal activity and nature of disposition and insignificant variability between adolescents with FAS/FAE and other disabilities and adolescents with disabilities (excluding FAS/FAE) in disposition outcome and recidivistic activity.