Judges Study Up On F.A.S.D.

Judges Study Up On F.A.S.D.

Friday, May 27, 2011 at 21:57

A major conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is wrapping up in Saskatoon today.

Judges from across Saskatchewan and other provinces gathered to discuss issues like F.A.S.D. and how they can affect decision-making in the courtroom.

Earl Kelenith is a provincial court judge who sits behind the bench in Meadow Lake.

He says understanding the problems of F.A.S.D. in the courtroom can make judges better-informed about whether or not suspects should be released into the community pending trial.

“Because their brain doesn’t work in the same way that a normal person’s does.  They don’t learn from consequences in the same way.  They need to have a very structured environment and those are some of the things that need to be considered when dealing with people with that affliction.

Kalenith says he hopes judges leave the conference with a better understanding of the issue and where they can find resources to deal with it.