'Now You See Me, Now You Don't' - Service Delivery to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Offenders: A Study of Policy and Practice in Saskatchewan Community Corrections

Abstract

FASD offenders involved in community corrections present a variety of challenges. One of the primary presenting challenges facing community corrections practitioners is how best to provide service to FASD offenders. What would the components of a service delivery program include in order to most effectively meet the needs of FASD offenders receiving services from Saskatchewan Community Corrections? Utilizing case study methodology, this research explores the intersection of present day service delivery practice and proposed future practices in supervising offenders as demonstrated by the Strategic Training Initiative in Community Supervision (STICS) project. Interview sampling of two sub-groups of research participants was employed in an attempt to reconcile this method of proposed service delivery with specific aspects of „what works‟ with FASD offenders. Conducting one-on-one interviews with those probation officers involved in the STICS project and the implementation of community corrections policies comprised the first sub-group. Interviews with those involved in the criminal justice system with FASD expertise (ie. lawyers, judges, police, etc.) comprised the second. Using a thematic network as a thematic analysis tool for qualitative data, this research identified limitations within community corrections and the STICS project that would need to be addressed to ensure success in reduction of recidivism and ensuring public safety in providing services to FASD offenders.