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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Melissa Davey and Ben Smee

What is FASD, and why do so many children with it end up in Australia’s justice system?

An illustration showing a girl in an isolated location in the dark next to a police van.
Children with FASD have a brain injury that means their cognitive skills are well below their chronological age. They might not be able to differentiate right from wrong, which can get them in trouble with the youth justice system. Illustration: James Gulliver Hancock/The Guardian

A 14-year-old girl with memory problems and below-average intellectual functioning – exacerbated by family violence and sexual abuse – has not been into the fresh air for several days.

At various points throughout the past fortnight she has only been allowed cold showers and has gone without meals – punishment for behaviours like aggression and yelling that she cannot remember engaging in.

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