Manitobans may agree to disagree on the links between FASD and crime, but residents of the province strongly support the creation of a dedicated court system to deal with young offenders who have been diagnosed with this condition, a Probe Research Inc. survey conducted for the Winnipeg Free Press finds.

While nearly as many Manitoba adults disagree as agree (32% versus 35%, respectively) that people with FASD are more likely to commit crimes, a slightly higher proportion of the population feels that taking steps to combat the effects of FASD would directly reduce the province’s crime rate (39% strongly or somewhat agreed with this argument, versus 27% who disagreed strongly or moderately).

However, more than three-quarters of Manitoba adults agree to some extent (78%, including 45% who strongly agree) that young offenders with FASD should benefit from a court program that would balance holding individuals responsible for their actions with resources that would be used to treat their condition – with women, residents of Winnipeg and individuals with higher levels of education slightly more likely to advocate for this type of initiative.

View detailed graphs and methodology