{"id":4145,"date":"2026-06-01T07:41:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T06:41:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hub.salford.ac.uk\/fasd\/?p=4145"},"modified":"2026-05-12T08:01:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T07:01:42","slug":"fasd-and-investigative-interviewing-vulnerabilities-in-the-criminal-justice-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hub.salford.ac.uk\/fasd\/blog\/fasd-and-investigative-interviewing-vulnerabilities-in-the-criminal-justice-system\/","title":{"rendered":"FASD and Investigative Interviewing: Vulnerabilities in the Criminal Justice System"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and investigative interviewing is an under-researched yet important area within the criminal justice system. Individuals with FASD are estimated to be 19 times more likely to encounter the criminal justice system (CJS) compared to individuals without FASD. Despite this increased likelihood of CJS contact, limited research \u00a0has examined how FASD affects performance and vulnerability during investigative interviews.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Investigative interviews are designed to obtain accurate and reliable information from suspects, victims, and witnesses. However, when individuals have neurodevelopmental impairments associated with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), the reliability and fairness of this process require careful scrutiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why FASD and Investigative Interviewing Matter<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The intersection of FASD and investigative interviewing raises concerns about suggestibility, compliance, and understanding of legal rights. Suggestibility is the extent to which individuals may accept suggestions during interviewing, while compliance is the extent to which individuals be socially manipulated to commit crimes. Many individuals with FASD experience difficulties with executive functioning, memory, impulse control, and social comprehension; all of which are directly relevant during police questioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Without appropriate adaptations, investigative interviewing practices may unintentionally &nbsp;disadvantage FASD-impacted individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Systematic Review of FASD and Investigative Interviewing Research<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To assess the current evidence base, a systematic review was conducted in line with PRISMA guidelines. The review aimed to identify empirical studies examining:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The performance of individuals with FASD during investigative interviews<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vulnerabilities associated with questioning in criminal justice contexts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Broader psycho-legal impairments relevant to police and court proceedings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The search yielded 383 studies from academic databases and a further 7 from Google Scholar. Following removal of duplicates and screening, 23 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. Ultimately, five studies met inclusion criteria and were included in a narrative synthesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two studies directly addressed FASD and investigative interviewing performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first empirical study found that individuals with FASD demonstrated heightened susceptibility to suggestion. Increased suggestibility is particularly concerning in investigative contexts, as it may elevate the risk of inaccurate reporting or compliance under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second paper, a detailed case study, examined the specific interviewing strategies used to obtain a confession from an individual with FASD. The analysis illustrated how certain questioning techniques may disproportionately affect individuals with cognitive impairments linked to prenatal alcohol exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These findings highlight potential risks relating to evidential reliability and the possibility of false or unreliable confessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Broader Psycho-Legal Vulnerabilities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three additional studies examined wider vulnerabilities relevant to FASD and investigative interviewing within the criminal justice system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These studies identified:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reduced psycho-legal abilities, including limited comprehension of legal rights<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Executive functioning impairments affecting decision-making<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased risk of recidivism<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Biological, psychological, and social factors heightening vulnerability during justice system contact<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Such vulnerabilities may impair an individual\u2019s ability to understand the implications of questioning, waive rights knowingly, or provide consistent and accurate accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Implications for Criminal Justice Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The available evidence suggests several implications for policy and practice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Increased awareness of FASD among police officers and legal practitioners<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adapted interviewing techniques sensitive to neurodevelopmental impairments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clear safeguards to protect vulnerable suspects, witnesses, and victims<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Further empirical research to strengthen the evidence base<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Given the disproportionate representation of individuals with FASD in criminal justice settings, greater attention to FASD and investigative interviewing is essential for ensuring procedural fairness and just outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/epdf\/10.1002\/bsl.2552?casa_token=7Ujt_ZrMHJQAAAAA%3AKgB-kja0rxweWkjyFyKeiWmrmgOFlIZHEyP1b7tAMV2_gtBN9KySWTLsozDvoz_6v6-PjzDEMUJUF0UM\">full journal article here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and investigative interviewing is an under-researched yet important area within the criminal justice system. Individuals with FASD are estimated to be 19 times more likely to encounter the criminal justice system (CJS) compared to individuals without FASD. Despite this increased likelihood of CJS contact, limited research \u00a0has examined how FASD [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":473,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[98],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>FASD | Investigative Interviewing<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This blog details a systematic review examining FASD and investigative interviewing, covering themes of suggestibility, psycho-legal vulnerabilities, and criminal justice risks.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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