If your young person is detained by police

 

  • If your rangatahi is arrested, inform police of the FASD diagnosis and areas of challenges for the young person. Ask that they not be interviewed for a statement until a lawyer or guardian is present.
  • If your young person is detained in custody, inform the custodial staff of the FASD diagnosis.Tell them about your young person’s strengths and challenges to help the custodial staff better understand them.
  • Tell the young person’s lawyer about the FASD assessment and if possible, provide a copy of the diagnostic report. This information will help the courts understand your child.
  • The parent or caregiver’s attendance in court is important to help answer questions and consider community supports.
  • If your young person is assigned to a youth justice or probation officer, parents are encouraged to communicate with that person.
  • It's important for parents or caregivers to go to appointments to ensure the young person understands the information. This will help them comply with a probation order. Probation orders can include language that is hard to understand, so ask questions. If your young person is more visual, ask about visual tools.