What the Study Sets Out to Do<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAt its core, this research asks a simple but critical question: how does a person with FASD perform when questioned within the justice system, and why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To answer this, participants undergo a series of carefully selected psychological assessments measuring key abilities including memory, intelligence, impulsivity, compliance, and interrogative suggestibility. These are the very traits that can determine whether someone gives an accurate, reliable account of events, or whether they become vulnerable to misunderstanding, coercion, or false confession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The assessments are conducted online via Microsoft Teams, making participation accessible to people across different countries. This international dimension is crucial. By comparing findings across multiple jurisdictions, the study can identify whether vulnerabilities are consistent globally, and whether different legal systems offer more or less protection to individuals with FASD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Who Can Take Part?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe study involves four groups of participants. Two of these groups, individuals with a diagnosis of FASD and individuals with a documented history of prenatal alcohol exposure but no formal diagnosis, have now completed recruitment. We are currently actively recruiting for the remaining two control groups:<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Man](\"https:\/\/hub.salford.ac.uk\/fasd\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/201\/2026\/03\/Picture1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYoung People Without FASD (with Parental or Carer Support)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThese participants serve as a comparison group, helping establish baseline performance on the psychological assessments. Parents and carers play a supportive role throughout, and participation is entirely voluntary. Young people and their parents both provide informed consent, and families can withdraw from the study at any time within two weeks of taking part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adults Without Neurodevelopmental Disorders<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nAdults without any neurodevelopmental diagnosis are also invited to participate as part of the control group. Like the young people’s group, adult participants complete the same range of psychological assessments online and may withdraw from the study without providing a reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both groups are entered into a prize draw as a thank you for their time, with Amazon vouchers up for grabs (first prize: \u00a3100; second prize: \u00a330; third prize: \u00a320).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Click here to participate in the study.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nWhat Participants Can Expect<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTaking part is straightforward and low-risk. Sessions are conducted entirely online, and at each stage of the assessments, participants receive a clear explanation of what is involved. There are no physical procedures, and the psychological assessments themselves carry minimal risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the meaningful benefits of taking part is that participants receive personalised feedback on their performance, insight into their own memory, reasoning, and suggestibility in the context of justice system questioning. This can be genuinely useful information, particularly for families of young people, in understanding individual strengths and areas of vulnerability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why This Research Has Real-World Impact<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe findings from this study have the potential to influence how criminal justice systems across the world respond to individuals with FASD. Currently, many police forces, legal professionals, and courts have limited awareness of how FASD affects a person’s ability to participate meaningfully in legal proceedings. Individuals with FASD may appear to understand their rights when they do not, may acquiesce to leading questions, or may have impaired recall of events, all of which can have devastating consequences in a legal context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By building an evidence base grounded in direct assessment, this research aims to improve understanding among practitioners, inform policy, and ultimately help protect some of society’s most vulnerable individuals from the risk of miscarriages of justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conducted with Rigour and Care<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThis study is sponsored by and conducted under the auspices of the University of Salford, with full ethical oversight. All data are handled in strict accordance with GDPR and the Data Protection Act 1998. Participant information is stored securely and anonymised for analysis and any subsequent publication. Participants can also be assured that safeguarding is taken seriously throughout the research process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Findings will be published in scientific journals and presented at conferences, ensuring that this work reaches the professionals and policymakers who can act on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get Involved or Get in Touch<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nIf you are interested in participating, or would simply like to know more about the study, please do not hesitate to reach out: d.j.gilbert1@salford.ac.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The study involves four groups of participants. Two of these groups, individuals with a diagnosis of FASD and individuals with a documented history of prenatal alcohol exposure but no formal diagnosis, have now completed recruitment. We are currently actively recruiting for the remaining two control groups:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These participants serve as a comparison group, helping establish baseline performance on the psychological assessments. Parents and carers play a supportive role throughout, and participation is entirely voluntary. Young people and their parents both provide informed consent, and families can withdraw from the study at any time within two weeks of taking part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adults without any neurodevelopmental diagnosis are also invited to participate as part of the control group. Like the young people’s group, adult participants complete the same range of psychological assessments online and may withdraw from the study without providing a reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both groups are entered into a prize draw as a thank you for their time, with Amazon vouchers up for grabs (first prize: \u00a3100; second prize: \u00a330; third prize: \u00a320).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Click here to participate in the study.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking part is straightforward and low-risk. Sessions are conducted entirely online, and at each stage of the assessments, participants receive a clear explanation of what is involved. There are no physical procedures, and the psychological assessments themselves carry minimal risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the meaningful benefits of taking part is that participants receive personalised feedback on their performance, insight into their own memory, reasoning, and suggestibility in the context of justice system questioning. This can be genuinely useful information, particularly for families of young people, in understanding individual strengths and areas of vulnerability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The findings from this study have the potential to influence how criminal justice systems across the world respond to individuals with FASD. Currently, many police forces, legal professionals, and courts have limited awareness of how FASD affects a person’s ability to participate meaningfully in legal proceedings. Individuals with FASD may appear to understand their rights when they do not, may acquiesce to leading questions, or may have impaired recall of events, all of which can have devastating consequences in a legal context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By building an evidence base grounded in direct assessment, this research aims to improve understanding among practitioners, inform policy, and ultimately help protect some of society’s most vulnerable individuals from the risk of miscarriages of justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This study is sponsored by and conducted under the auspices of the University of Salford, with full ethical oversight. All data are handled in strict accordance with GDPR and the Data Protection Act 1998. Participant information is stored securely and anonymised for analysis and any subsequent publication. Participants can also be assured that safeguarding is taken seriously throughout the research process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Findings will be published in scientific journals and presented at conferences, ensuring that this work reaches the professionals and policymakers who can act on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are interested in participating, or would simply like to know more about the study, please do not hesitate to reach out: d.j.gilbert1@salford.ac.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYoung People Without FASD (with Parental or Carer Support)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Adults Without Neurodevelopmental Disorders<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What Participants Can Expect<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why This Research Has Real-World Impact<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Conducted with Rigour and Care<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Get Involved or Get in Touch<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n