Abstract
The over-representation of Indigenous youth in the Western Australian criminal justice system has been described as a source of national shame. Rates of incarceration are the highest in the nation: around 80 per cent of youth in detention in Western Australia are of Indigenous descent, while Indigenous youth represent only 6 per cent of the population. In recent years there has been a growing awareness that Indigenous youth are at a disadvantage because of a high incidence of cognitive disability, preventing meaningful participation in the justice process and leading to enmeshment in the correctional system. Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders ('FASD') is increasingly considered to be a significant barrier preventing many Indigenous children from receiving fair treatment in the criminal justice system.
Published Version
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