If your rangatahi / young person is arrested and you are able to talk to them, advise them not to say anything. Legally, you only have to tell the police your name, date of birth, and address. Beyond that, you have the right to remain silent.

• As soon as you can, inform police that your rangatahi has FASD and any specific areas of challenge for them. Ask politely that they not be interviewed for a statement until a lawyer or guardian is present. Police interview situations are not set up for neurodivergent people and noise, bright lights and general stress levels may trigger a meltdown which could make the situation much worse. 
  
  
• Contact a lawyer – if you don’t have one, you can contact a free lawyer on the police lawyer list (PDLA list) before making a statement. You could also get in touch with one of our Kaiwhakatere / Navigators – this is one of the many areas they can offer advice on. Other agencies, such as Youth Law could also be very helpful. 
  
  
• If your young person is detained in custody, inform the custodial staff of the FASD diagnosis.
   
• Tell the young person’s lawyer about the FASD assessment or probability and if possible, provide a copy of the diagnostic report. This information will help the courts understand your child.
  
  
• Your attendance in court is important to help answer questions and consider community supports. Talking Trouble Aotearoa may be able to help – we encourage getting in touch with them.
  
  
• If your young person is assigned to a youth justice or probation officer, parents are encouraged to communicate with that person. Check out Reconnect or the Grace Foundation for great services to help avoid reoffending.
  
  
• 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.